Mandela lies in state for final day in Pretoria A huge statue of Nelson Mandela has been erected in front of the Union Buildings, the seat of South Africa's government, in the capital Pretoria. Mandela, who died on December 5, is lying in state in Pretoria for a third and final day. Thousands of people joined long queues to pay their respects. Some expressed concerns about South Africa's future. One man said: "My worries are about, especially in the communities, about this word called xenophobia. That is the worry because it started when he [Mandela] was alive. "I think each South African needs to work together at making this a better country," said another local resident, who had come to see Mandela lying in state. Mandela's funeral will be held on Sunday, December 15 at his ancestral home in Qunu on South Africa's eastern cape.