Nelson Mandela death: Crowds gather to pay tribute 6 December 2013 Last updated at 22:18 South Africans continue to gather in Johannesburg and Soweto to pay tribute to their former leader, Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday aged 95. Crowds have been remembering his legacy, dancing and singing in front of Mr Mandela's former home in Soweto. He is to be accorded a state funeral on Sunday 15 December, President Jacob Zuma announced. South Africans across the country have been saying prayers, singing anti-apartheid songs and lighting candles. Hundreds are gathered outside Mr Mandela's home in Johannesburg's northern suburb of Houghton, where he died. They have been sharing memories of the former leader, recounting how they drew inspiration from his life. A stage has been erected near the house, from where priests have led the crowd in prayers. One of his grandsons. Mbuso Mandela, laid wreaths in his grandfather's memory. President Zuma visited the house in the early afternoon to pay his respects. At a news conference on Friday afternoon, Mr Zuma outlined a week of events to mourn the former president. Sunday will be an official day of prayer and reflection with special religious services On Tuesday, a service of national mourning will be held at a 95,000-seater stadium on the outskirts of Johannesburg Mr Mandela's body will lie in state from Wednesday to Friday in the capital, Pretoria Next Sunday's funeral will be held in the village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape, where Mr Mandela grew up. South African Airways has announced that it will provide extra flights to Qunu for mourners. Hundreds have attended an interfaith remembrance service outside Cape Town's City Hall. The Johannesburg stock exchange suspended operations for five minutes on Friday as a mark of respect. Criticism "We sincerely thank all South Africans for the dignified manner in which they have respected and responded to the monumental loss of this international icon," Mr Zuma said. Speaking in Cape Town, Mr Mandela's long-time ally, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, described him as an "incredible gift" to South Africa. He taught us extraordinarily practical lessons about forgiveness, compassion and reconciliation. He also cited Mr Mandela's weaknesses, including "his steadfast loyalty to his organisation and some of his colleagues who ultimately let him down." Mr Mandela had been receiving treatment at home for a recurring lung illness since September, when he was discharged from hospital. As soon as the news of his death broke late on Thursday, small crowds began to gather in Soweto's Vilakazi Street, where Mr Mandela lived in the 1940s and 1950s. Pope Francis said Mr Mandela had forged "a new South Africa built on the firm foundations of non-violence, reconciliation and truth." Queen Elizabeth II said she was "deeply saddened" to learn of Mr Mandela's death and said she remembered her meetings with him "with great warmth." What was apartheid? A 90-second look back at decades of injustice The White House has announced that Mr Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will be travelling to South Africa next week to pay their respects and take part in memorial events. South Africans are mourning Nelson Mandela through songs of struggle and church hymns. Children carrying posters slowly march up and down Vilakazi street, where Mr Mandela's Soweto home is. Others are standing outside his old house, now turned into a museum. There is an air of heaviness here - none of the loud hooting of minibus taxis that usually make up the energy of this busy street, no cars speeding down blaring loud music. Instead those not part of the mournful singing speak in hushed tones. Elderly women with walking sticks are part of the group that has come to send off the nation's icon. The opening of a summit of African leaders in Paris to discuss security was dedicated to Mr Mandela, with many of those present paying tribute. The European Union and world football body Fifa have also ordered their flags to be lowered. Parliament in Pretoria is expected to hold a special joint session to reflect on Mr Mandela's life and legacy. Mr Mandela died shortly before 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Thursday. He won admiration around the world when he preached reconciliation after being freed from almost three decades of imprisonment. Young people on the streets of Johannesburg and Cape Town react to the news of Nelson Mandela's death. The BBC's Milton Nkosi reports from Houghton, Johannesburg, where crowds gathered outside Nelson Mandela's home. In Soweto, people danced in the streets to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela. At a memorial service in Cape Town, Archbishop Desmond Tutu gave thanks for the life of Nelson Mandela and paid tribute to what the former South African president achieved.