Pranab may lead team for Mandela funeral

President Pranab Mukherjee is likely to visit South Africa next week to pay homage to Nelson Mandela, who passed away last Thursday.

Mukherjee is likely to join US President Barack Obama and other world leaders, who are expected to travel to South Africa to pay tribute to the legendary peace icon. The South African Government has planned a 10-day programme to salute the leader.

Mandela, who liberated South Africa from apartheid regime and became an icon of the struggle for equality, passed away at the age of 95.

He was conferred the Bharat Ratna in 1990, before he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Mukherjee will lead a high-level delegation to pay tribute to Mandela on behalf of India, a country with which the South African leader, who drew inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, had close ties. The delegation will include senior parliamentarians from the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party as well as others.