Thousands of South Africans are queuing to view the body of their former President, Nelson Mandela.

Mr Mandela's body is lying in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where he was sworn in as the country's first black president nearly 20 years ago.

Earlier, members of his family and senior officials including current President Jacob Zuma filed past the coffin.

Mr Mandela died last Thursday at the age of 95 and will be buried on Sunday.

His funeral will take place in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province on Sunday.

Tens of thousands of South Africans joined scores of world leaders for a national memorial service on Tuesday as part of a series of commemorations.

One of the dignitaries at the event, South African peace advocate and former Archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu, had his home broken into while he was away, an aide has told reporters.

Quick convoy

With crowds streaming into the grounds of the Union Buildings, the BBC's Peter Biles says the scene is reminiscent of the country's first democratic elections in 1994.

It is a lengthy process, with security checks, but so far our correspondent says enormous patience has been displayed by those who are queuing.

Earlier, crowds watched as the coffin was taken in procession from a hospital mortuary to the Union Buildings.

South Africans queued for hours to get a glimpse of their hero.

The procession left the city's 1 Military Hospital shortly after 07:00 (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

The coffin could be seen inside a black hearse, draped in a South African flag, in a convoy with military outriders and ambulances.

Mr Mandela's remains will make the journey from the military hospital every morning from Wednesday until Friday, the government announced.

"The public are encouraged to form a guard of honour by lining the streets," it said.

Small crowds cheered and sang as the convoy sped past.

"Seeing him passing by was the greatest thing I have ever seen in my life. I just wanted to see him passing for the last time," said one mourner, Grace.