Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA RELEASE REGARDING THE STATE VISIT OF PRESIDENT MANDELA TO MAURITIUS FROM 10 - 12 SEPTEMBER 1998.
President Mandela, accompanied by his wife, Ms Graca Machel, will be paying a State Visit to the Republic of Mauritius from 10 - 12 September 1998 on the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr Navin Ramgoolam. This visit follows on the State Visit to South Africa of Dr and Ms Ramgoolam during February this year and will serve to further strengthen and enhance the already excellent relations existing between South Africa and Mauritius.
In the course of his visit, which precedes the SADC summit which will be taking place in Mauritius on 13 and 14 September, the President and Ms Machel will be hosted to a State Banquet by Prime Minister and Ms Ramgoolam on Friday, 11 September. Earlier on the same day he will lay a wreath at the memorial of the late Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, fondly referred to as the "Father of the Nation", in the famous Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens where he will also participate in a tree-planting ceremony and meet with some disabled children. Bilateral Agreements concerning Sport and Arts and Culture as well as a Declaration of Intent concerning co-operation in the fields of Science and Technology will be signed by President Mandela and Prime Minister Ramgoolam later in the morning before Mr Mandela receives a Doctorate of Civil Law "Honoris Causa" from the University of Mauritius. This is followed by a formal lunch hosted by President Cassam Uteem who will present Mr Mandela with the award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean at the same occasion.
During the morning of Saturday, 12 September, President Mandela will be asked to unveil a monument commemorating the Declaration of Human Rights at the Port Louis Waterfront. Before addressing the National Assembly of the Mauritian Parliament in Port Louis the President will lay a foundation stone at the Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture at Bell Village. This will be followed by a lunch with the business sector of Mauritius whom the President will also address before witnessing the signing of two private sector business agreements between South Africa and Mauritius.
Before officially ending the State Visit with a Press Conference at 15:00, Mr Mandela will have an opportunity of meeting with prominent Mauritians from all walks of life at his hotel in Grand Baie.
ISSUED IN PRETORIA BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON 3 SEPTEMBER 1998