Mandela's face was briefly mapped onto the city hall in Cape Town where he gave his first freedom speech in 1990 after his release from 27 years in apartheid prison.
The tribute, featured a recording of Mandela calling for peace and friendship, was screened just before the countdown into midnight which was marked with a fireworks show.
It was part of a free party featuring singers and DJs on the public square opposite city hall where the crowd also replicated Mandela's trademark arm waving dance known as the "Madiba jive".