Indian PM in South Africa, scheduled to visit Nelson Mandela Foundation

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has landed in South Africa on the second leg of his 4-nation African tour.

He flew into Waterkloof Airforce Base in Pretoria on Thursday night after concluding a one-day visit to neighbouring Mozambique.

According to the South African government, the visit by the Indian premier will be used to further bolster cooperation in economic, political, social and international areas.

The government disclosed that India till date was South Africa’s largest trade partner with trade volumes last year estimated to have reached 95 million rand. ‘‘Trade with India represented 4.9% of SA imports and 4.1% of exports last year,’‘ it added.

He is scheduled to meet president Jacob Zuma and his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa later today. He will also pay visits to Phoenix Settlement and Pietermaritzburg Station, two places very closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s stay in South Africa.

Pres. Zuma and PM Mondi will hold official talks today at Union Buildings & later address South Africa-India Business Forum #IndiaStateVisit

— South African Gov (@GovernmentZA) July 8, 2016

In the evening, the Prime Minister will visit the Nelson Mandela Foundation and also address a community programme.

‘‘I will also be honoured to visit the Constitutional Hill and Nelson Mandela Foundation where I would pay my tributes to an icon of human history, who made his country and the world a much better place,’‘ Modi disclosed via his facebook page.

In the evening the Prime Minister will visit the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Later in the evening, he will address a community programme.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 8, 2016

After South Africa, he is expected to arrive in Tanzania on the 10th of July, where he will meet President Magufuli for high level talks before he rounds off the visit in Kenya on Monday, the 11th.