Sonia Gandhi to pay a working Visit to South Africa, 21-23 August 2007

 Pretoria- Sonia Gandhi, the President of the Indian National Congress and the leader of the ruling Indian Congress Alliance, is expected to arrive at the Oliver Tambo International Airport on Tuesday 21 August for a two-day working visit to South Africa from Tuesday-Thursday 21-23 August 2007. Ms. Gandhi will be accompanied by Indian Minister of State, Minister Sharma.

Sonia Gandhi will visit South Africa as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen and consolidate political, economic, trade and cultural relations between the peoples of South Africa and India.

In this regard, Sonia Gandhi is expected to pay courtesy calls on current and former Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela and hold bilateral political discussions with Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. In addition, Ms. Gandhi will hold further political discussions with ANC leaders led by party Deputy President, Jacob Zuma at ANC Headquarters in Johannesburg and address its Party caucus in Cape Town.

Sonia Gandhi is further expected to hold discussions with Mrs. Zanele Mbeki with whom she shares a passion for women’s development before attending the launch of the Jobs for Growth Co-operative Women’s fund hosted by Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Old Mutual.

Sonia Gandhi, like all international visitors to our country will visit the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg before visiting our parliament at the invitation of the Speaker Baleka Mbete and then proceed to the former Robben Island Prison in Cape Town where she will be guided on a tour of the precinct by Ahmed Kathrada.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs

Private Bag X152

Pretoria

0001

20 August 2007