World Leaders Join South Africa to Bid Final Farewell To Nelson Mandela Today

Tens of thousands of grieving South Africans will sit side-by-side with presidents, priests, queens and sheikhs today at a memorial service for unifying global icon Nelson Mandela.

Close to 100 world leaders and 90,000 South Africans are now gathered at a stadium in Soweto - the crucible of Mr Mandela's anti-apartheid struggle - to bid farewell to a man whose life story earned uncommon universal respect.

Tight security is in place and roads have been blocked on what is expected to be one of the largest gatherings of international dignitaries held on South African soil. 

US president Barack Obama and his predecessors Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Jimmy Carter are also among the guests present now, along with Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, Prince Charles, British prime minister David Cameron and French president Francois Hollande. 

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and Cuban leader Raul Castro are also present.

Notable absentees include Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who cited high travel and security costs, and Mr Mandela's fellow Nobel peace laureate, the Dalai Lama, who since 2009 has twice been denied a visa for South Africa.

farewell Madiba