JOHANNESBURG (South Africa), December 8, 2013 (SPS) - Fifty-three (53) heads of State and government confirmed their presence at Nelson Mandela’s funeral, South African’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane announced on Sunday.
US President Barack Obama, Brazilian Dilma Roussef and French François Hollande will participate in the tributes in the memory of the anti-apartheid and national reconciliation hero.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will also be present.
Foreign dignitaries are expected to start arriving there as from Sunday, Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane specified.
In addition to acting officials, former heads of State will participate in the funeral, including US Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, French Nicolas Sarkozy, Brazilian Lula da Silva.
Other personalities, such as Prince Charles, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, musician Peter Gabriel, entrepreneur Richard Branson are also announced.
British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that he was heading to South Africa on Tuesday for the official ceremony in tribute to Nelson Mandela while UK’s prince Charles will represent the Royal family to burials of the former South African leader on Sunday December 15th.
The national official ceremony in memory of Mandela will be held on Tuesday at Soccer City Stadium in the township of Soweto, a suburb in Johannesburg.
Nelson Mandela, 95, who passed away on Thursday December 5th, will be buried in his home village of Qunu (South) on December 15th. (SPS)
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