Pretoria – It’s all systems go at Waterkloof Air Force Base as the country prepares to receive numerous Heads of State and Government ahead of tomorrow's Memorial Service, where leaders and the public at large will pay their respects to former President Nelson Mandela.
At least 70 Heads of State and Government -- some of whom are expected to speak during the service -- have confirmed their attendance for the memorial or State Funeral on December 15, and they are expected to arrive throughout the day today.
According to the landing schedule at Waterkloof, among those who will touch down in the next few hours are delegations from China, Chad, Kenya, Cananda, Benin, Senegal and Equatorial Guinea.
It is not clear when the US delegation, led by President Barack Obama, will land, but officials from the US Embassy could be seen at the airport.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s Head of Public Diplomacy, Clayson Monyela, had earlier indicated that the world leaders will travel with their own security detail, but would have to work closely with local authorities.
“The whole world is literally coming to South African" Monyela said.
The world's major organisations such as the United Nations, African Union, European Union and World Bank will also be represented at the Memorial Service. - SAnews.gov.za
