Congress President Sonia Gandhi arrived here on Tuesday on a three-day visit aimed at strengthening ties between India and South Africa.
Ms Gandhi has cut short her visit, which was earlier planned for four days, by dropping Durban from her itinerary amidst ongoing stand-off with Left allies over the Indo-US nuclear deal.
The UPA Chairperson is scheduled to meet South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg on Wednesday and then travel to Cape Town to hold talks with President Thabo Mbeki and Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on Thursday.
Ms Gandhi’s visit to S Africa is “a part of ongoing efforts to strengthen and consolidate political, economic, trade and cultural relations between the people of S Africa and India,” said a spokesperson.  “She is expected to pay courtesy calls on current and former Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela and hold discussions with Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka,” the spokesperson added.