Nelson Mandela mourners line up for MILES to say last goodbye to Madiba 50,000 people had already gathered by 7.30am, and witnesses said the lines were several miles long in Pretoria As stampedes broke out among those desperate to see body, government urged those not already in line to stay away It was the last day Mandela's body lay in state before his funeral takes place in his rural home in Qunu on Sunday The final chance to see Nelson Mandela's body descended into chaos today as up to 100,000 South African mourners flocked to his casket sparking stampedes and crushes in central Pretoria. Today was the third and final day that the former president lay in state before his funeral takes place on Sunday. And in one waiting area in Pretoria, people pushed open a gate that the police had closed, shouting that they wanted to see their hero. Several hundred mourners broke through police barriers and stormed up toward the Union Buildings shortly before Mr Mandela's body was moved away. There was no violence and police peacefully brought them back in line. But some fell to the ground as the crowd surged, and several were slightly injured. The government said some 92,000 people had gathered by late morning, but closed nearby parking facilities around midday because of the huge crowds. 'It's almost impossible that all of them will go through,' government spokeswoman Phumla Williams said. The volumes are just huge. Desperate: Police try to hold back people as they open a gate to a park and ride at the Tshwane Events Centre where buses were shuttling wellwishers to a line to view the body Wait your turn: A police officer closes a gate as he cuts off access to buses to avoid a stampede Eager: A young boy looks through a fence as he waits in line at the Tshwane Events Centre with thousands of people hoping to board a bus that will take them to Mandela It appeared the government's earlier plea for people not already in line to stay away amid fears of mass overcrowding had fallen on deaf ears as more people surged towards 'Madiba's' coffin. A spokesman said: 'We appeal to members of the public who have not had the opportunity to pay their respects to President Mandela at the Union Buildings, to say goodbye in their own personal way.' Organizers handed out water to the crowds, and moved up elderly people and women with children to spare them a longer wait. Last chance: Mourners line along the street as the funeral cortege carrying the coffin of former South African President Nelson Mandela drives through, on its way to lie in state for the final day at the Union Buildings in Pretoria See a hero: Queues snaked for miles, through streets and fields, as South Africans tried to catch a glimpse of their national hero Goodbye Madiba: The hearse's route of several miles was lined all the way by mourners wishing to pay their respects Dedication: The government said some 50,000 people had gathered by 7.30am, and witnesses said the lines in Pretoria, South Africa's capital, were already several miles long In vain: But queues were so long that officials said there was a likelihood that many would be turned away before the casket is taken away later in the day Respect: The casket of former South African President Nelson Mandela is followed by his oldest grandson Mandla Mandela (far left), as it is carried to lie in state for the third day today What they'd come to see: Mandela's body, guarded by South African Naval personnel, lies in its casket for the world to pay its respects Cortege: Mandela's cortege was led by an escort of police motorcycles, left, while his coffin was draped in a South African flag, right Confetti: People cheer as the coffin of Mandela, known affectionately by his countrymen as 'Madiba', drives through the streets, wrapped in a South African flag As people kept arriving, the government warned it couldn't guarantee that all people currently will be able to file past Mandela's casket until the agreed limit on Friday afternoon. Some of those who did view the body at the Union Buildings, a century-old government complex overlooking the city, wept at the sight of the revered anti-apartheid leader in a coffin. Mourner Elizabeth Leening said she got up at 3am and headed toward Pretoria's Union Buildings an hour later to pay her last respects to Mandela. 'We have been standing in the queue now for four hours to see Madiba,' she said, using Mandela's clan name as a sign of affection and respect. Mandela, who was jailed for 27 years during white rule and later became president, died on December 5 in his Johannesburg home after a long illness at the age of 95. Guess who: A giant statue of Nelson Mandela is prepared before its official unveiling in front of Union Buildings where Mandela is lying in state Unveiling: President Jacob Zuma will unveil a nine-metre-high bronze statue of former president Nelson Mandela at the Union Buildings in Pretoria next week. The government said it hoped the statue would become a site of pilgrimage Love: Many of the mourners held banners and placards showing their love for the former leader Tears: Many of the visitors wept as they witnessed the statesman's body. Even a few members of the police were unable to contain their grief as the emotion took hold of the gathered mourners A celebration: Others were more cheerful as they celebrated the freedom fighter's life United in struggle: U.S. civil rights campaigner Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was in Cape Town in 1990 when Mandela was released from prison, also walked past Mandela's casket today Support: After viewing Mandela's body, Rev. Jackson was seen comforting a woman who was overcome by emotion Statesmen: The President of Rwanda Paul Kagame (far left) bows his head as he pays his respects to Mandela's body Emotion: As queues stretched through South Africa's capital, many of those lucky enough to see the body came out in floods of tears Stampede: Mourners jostle in a stampede as they run to queue before boarding buses to take them to the Union Buildings The queue for the queue: Thousands of people line up to board a bus that will take them to wait in line to view the body From Pretoria, his body will be flown to his rural hometown of Qunu in the south-east of the country for a state funeral service and burial on Sunday. U.S. civil rights campaigner Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was in Cape Town in 1990 when Mandela was released from prison, also walked past Mandela's casket, with photos showing him comforting a woman there who was overcome by emotion. President Jacob Zuma's office said he had authorized the deployment of 11,900 military servicemen to assist police in maintaining order during the funeral service. Stampede: Elsewhere, mourners fell in a stampede as they ran to the queue Iconic: Mandela, who was jailed for 27 years during white rule and later became president, died on December 5 in his Johannesburg home after a long illness at the age of 95. He was freed in 1990 (left) and became president. In one of his many iconic moments, he wore a Springbok rugby jersey as he waved to the crowds at the 1995 Rugby World Cup final at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, right Long journey: The funeral cortege of Mandela makes its way along Madiba St towards Union Buildings Biggest funeral: South African military personnel keep guard around the perimeter of Nelson Mandela's property in Qunu, ahead of his funeral on Sunday Final preparations are made to the marquee for the funeral and burial of former Nelson Mandela in Qunu South African army vehicles are parked next to the stage at Nelson Mandela's burial site. The remains of the iconic leader will be flown to his hometown on Saturday and buried on Sunday Rehearsals: South African troops rehearse the funeral procession for the former South African president ahead of his funeral on Sunday Meanwhile, President Zuma will unveil a nine-metre-high bronze statue of former president Nelson Mandela at the Union Buildings in Pretoria next week, the arts and culture department said on Thursday. 'The unveiling of the statue on 16 December [Monday] is intended as acknowledgement of the contribution of the first president of a democratic South Africa, a symbol of national reconciliation and unity,' it said in a statement. Hopefully, it will become a site of pilgrimage for domestic and international visitors.