J ZUMA RETURNS FROM FRANCE AND PROCEEDS TO COMMONWEALTH MEETING

DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA RETURNS FROM FRANCE AND PROCEEDS TO THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING

Deputy President Jacob Zuma returns to South on Thursday 11 November from a three-day Socialist International Conference held in Paris from Monday 8 - Wednesday 10.

Upon his return the Deputy President will proceed to Kwazulu/Natal on Friday 12 November to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at the International Convention Centre in Durban.

Later that evening, the Deputy President will join President Thabo Mbeki and other government ministers and officials on board the SAS Drakensberg for a dinner hosted for Commonwealth Heads of Government by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Nkosazana Zuma.

On Saturday 13 November, the Deputy President accompanies the Duke of Edinburgh to a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of victims of the Anglo-Boer South African War at Spieonkop, province of Kwazulu/Natal.

Sunday 14 November will see Deputy President Zuma receiving Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Remembrance Day Commemoration Service that will be held at the Durban Cenotaph at 09h00. Premier Lionel Mtshali and the local mayor will also attend the service.

The solemn and dignified service will be characterised by the lowering of the South African and Commonwealth Flags and the rendition of the last post and the observation of a moment of silence by dignitaries. The flags will then be hoisted in preparation for the wreath-laying ceremony.

The wreath-laying ceremony will observe the following protocol:

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
Duke of Edinburgh
Deputy President Jacob Zuma
Premier of Kwazulu/Natal
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps
Chief of the SANDF-Siphiwe Nyanda
Mayor
And the National President of the South African Legion

The service will be concluded with the rendition of the South African National Anthem. Deputy President Zuma will then take leave of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh who will proceed to St. Paul Anglican Church.

For more information contact:

Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
Mathula Magubane at 082-371-1315.

Issued by the Office of the Presidency
Communications Unit
Office of Deputy President Jacob Zuma
P/Bag X1000
Pretoria
0001
10 November 1999.