[LIVE] World bids final goodbye to Nelson Mandela

At a memorial service that started an hour late, world leaders, celebrities and South Africans gathered at the 95,000-seater stadium in Johannesburg to pay tribute to anti-apartheid icon and South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela.

Mandela passed away on Thursday night, aged 95.

Despite the dull weather and pouring rains, the atmosphere at the stadium was celebratory, with people wearing colourful clothing, blowing vuvuzelas and singing songs. The crowd at the stadium is estimated to have reached some 100,000.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who has joined world leaders in saluting Madiba for the last time, said it was "surreal" to enter Soweto for such an occassion.

Entering #Soweto on such a day is almost surreal -JM #MandelaMemorial #Madiba #Malta — Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) December 10, 2013

Muscat also found a brief moment to speak to former US president Bill Clinton.

#selfies at heavens gates! #MandelaMemorial pic.twitter.com/oFDjje285Q — † .NITA. † (@Vinita_Frankly) December 10, 2013

"South Africa has lost a father. The world has lost a beloved friend and mentor." - #UNSG Ban Ki-moon at the #Mandela memorial. — United Nations (@UN) December 10, 2013

(Photo) U2's Bono and South African actress Charlize Theron seen at Nelson #Mandela's memorial http://t.co/M3SCKwyp05 pic.twitter.com/2ZOlwgjkfp — Telegraph Pictures (@TelegraphPics) December 10, 2013