Mahathir to visit South Africa

Mahathir to visit South Africa

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will leave today for his first official visit to South Africa.

Mahathir, who will be accompanied by a 250-strong delegation, will witness the signing of several private-sector deals and the transfer of a housing project by Malaysia to South Africa's minister of housing.

He will also speak to business executives in Cape Town and South African members of parliament and meet South African President Nelson Mandela and Deputy Presidents F.W. De Klerk and Thabo Mbeki.

His trip follows the February visit of De Klerk, the most senior government official to visit Malaysia since all-race elections were held in South Africa last year.