Heads of state and VIPs for funeral

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 tomorrow 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.