President Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Johannesburg today to attend a memorial service in honour of South Africa's anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, whose death triggered an unprecedented outpouring of rich tributes worldwide. President Mukherjee is one of only six heads of state who will address the crowd at the memorial service.
Mukherjee will join the heads of governments and states from more than 53 countries, including US President Barack Obama, in the two-hour long memorial service to be held at FNB Stadium. Mandela made his last major public appearance during the 2010 football World Cup in this stadium. President Pranab Mukherjee is accompanied by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury and BSP leader Satish Mishra, reflecting the high-esteem Mandela held across the entire political spectrum in India.
Mandela, 95, who had been suffering from a recurring lung infection and a prolonged spell of ill-health, died on December 5.

After today's memorial service, Mandela's remains will lie in state for three days at the government buildings in Pretoria, the same where he was sworn in as president in 1994.
He will be buried on Sunday in Qunu, near Johannesburg, at an event only a few world leaders are expected to attend.