The late Nelson Mandela taught South Africans and the world about the “power of action and the power of ideas,” US President Barack Obama, said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the late leader’s memorial service in Johannesburg, Obama urged other leaders to act on behalf of peace and justice.

“There are world leaders that tolerate Madiba’s call for freedom but fail to tolerate freedom in their countries. South Africa shows that we can change,” Obama said.

He said Mandela spoke to what is best “inside us. Let us search for his largeness of spirit. Let us think of the words that brought Mandela comfort while in prison. ‘I am the master of my fate and the captain of my soul.’ We miss you badly Madiba.”

Obama made these comments as South Africa came to a standstill on Tuesday as world leaders and other luminaries descended on the southern- most tip of Africa to attend the memorial service of the late Nelson Mandela.

Even the South African markets did not show any activity on the day in an indication that even business slowed down on Tuesday.

The Johannesburg bourse was fairly quiet, remaining unchanged this morning, with the All Share moving up only 0.01 percent by midday on Tuesday.

South African streets were quiet as almost all people were glued to their TV screens watching the proceedings of the memorial service from home.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC), which Mandela led for many years, organised thousands of buses to ferry to ferry others to the venue in Johannesburg.

It was not an official holiday in the country but during days like this it is often the case that production slows down in South African businesses as people watch the proceedings on TV at work. This was the case during the first match of the 2010 World Cup.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the chairperson of the African Union, said Africa shall prevail. “It shall invest in its women and children,” Dlamini Zuma said.