/ 1 April 1999

PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION JUNE 16

THE country’s new president will be inaugurated on June 16 at a ceremony in Pretoria to which 190 heads of state will be invited, the Cabinet decided on Wednesday. The ceremony at the Union Buildings will be followed by an evening concert in the State Theatre to say farewell to outgoing President Nelson Mandela. The concert will be hosted by the new president, certain to be Mandela’s current deputy, Thabo Mbeki. Water Affairs and Forestry Minister Kader Asmal told reporters in Pretoria on Wednesday that the heads of all member countries of the United Nations will be invited to the celebrations, which will have as its theme the African renaissance.