Former president Nelson Mandela will give the Rugby World Cup final in France a miss on Saturday, his spokesperson Zelda la Grange said.
”Because of his age, it is very difficult for Madiba to undertake long trips,” she told the South African Press Association on Tuesday.
La Grange said the possibility of sending the Springboks a video message from Mandela was being considered.
Mandela met the Springboks last month while he was in Paris raising funds for his Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Springbok coach Jake White said the team had extended an invitation to Mandela to attend the final.
”When he was here we … gave him [captain John Smit’s] number two jersey and invited him to join us for the week leading up to the final,” said White.
Mbeki promised the team on Sunday he would attend the final if the Springboks beat the Pumas in the semifinal.
Asked about this on Tuesday, his spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga said: ”We will be issuing a statement to that effect sometime today or tomorrow morning.” – Sapa