Photograph of Mandela lying in state a fake: government

The photograph of former President Nelson Mandela, purported to be of him lying in his casket at the Union Buildings, is a fake, the Department of State Security said on Thursday.

"Government finds it extremely distasteful that a member of the public would engage is such behaviour and manipulate a photograph of President Mandela at this time," the department said.

The department appealed to members of the public to behave with the same dignity and respect as Mandela lies in the state for the third and final day on Friday.

The government said earlier it is aware of social media activity on the existence or otherwise of a picture of Mandela lying in state.

Also on Thursday the government announced a ban on photographs of Mandela's body.

"Government and the Mandela family have no plans to release so- called official photographs of President Mandela lying in state," said Phumla Williams, acting CEO of the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).

"Government is respecting the family's wish that no photographs of President Mandela's body be released."

The government asks people to show regard for the wishes and feelings of the Mandela family, said Williams.

Mandela's body has been lying in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria for two days.

With regard to mourners filing past the casket, the government repeats the caution that no photography is allowed, as this would violate the military protocol governing proceedings at the Union Buildings, Willaims said.

The government, she said, welcomes the way in which people on social platforms are expressing their disappointment and outrage at any circulation of such photographs.

If this content exists, the government calls on people not to view it and to delete it from their timelines, Williams said.

The lying-in-state is an opportunity for hundreds of thousands of South Africans to pay their last respects privately and people should observe this with decency and dignity, Williams said.

Tomorrow will be the last day for public viewing of Mandela's body.

Mandela's body will be transferred to the Eastern Cape on Saturday 14, and will be laid to rest in Qunu, Eastern Cape on Sunday.