Cape Town - A handful of heads of state, former heads of state and members of royalty, mostly from African countries, will attend the state funeral of Nelson Mandela on Sunday in Qunu.
Most countries sent representatives to pay their respects to Mandela at Tuesday’s memorial service at the FNB Stadium in Soweto. Comparatively few will travel to the Eastern Cape.
“It is comforting to have among us leaders and other dignitaries representing the international community during this time of bidding our final farewells to Madiba,” International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said in a statement.
Among those attending:
* Joyce Banda – President of Malawi.
* Jakaya Kikwete – President of Tanzania.
* Guy Scott – Vice-President of Zambia.
* Mohammad Shariatmadari – Vice-President of Iran.
* Maria Nyerere – former first lady of Tanzania.
* Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma – chairwoman of the African Union Commission.
* Kenneth Kaunda – former president of Zambia.
* Lionel Jospin – former prime minister of France.
* Alain Juppe – former prime minister of France.
* Roeland van der Geer – head of the EU in South Africa.
* King Letsie III – King of Lesotho.
* Charles, Prince of Wales – Great Britain.
* Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco.
* Oprah Winfrey – US.
* Rev Jesse Jackson – US.
Weekend Argus