Motlanthe attends funeral of Malawi's late president

Pretoria - Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will jet off to Malawi today for the funeral of the late head of state, Bingu wa Mutharika.

Mutharika, 78, who was a former African Union chairperson, died of a heart attack on 5 April.

Motlanthe is accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the Presidency said on Monday.

South Africa and Malawi are members of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) and enjoy strong relations at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

Malawi has declared today a national public holiday. Following Mutharika's passing, Malawi's Vice-President Joyce Banda assumed the Presidency, becoming Southern Africa's first female Head of State.