UK's Straw salutes Sisulu

2003-05-13 12:49

Johannesburg - British foreign secretary Jack Straw on Tuesday hailed African National Congress stalwart Walter Sisulu as "the symbol of South Africa's fight against apartheid".

Straw, who is on a two-day official visit to South Africa, told reporters in Soweto that Sisulu and former president Nelson Mandela were beacons of hope to the country and the rest of the world.

"I grew to admire Sisulu hugely while I was a student and a young man. He was, and still is, a symbol of South Africa's fight for freedom against apartheid."

Straw was speaking during a tour of Soweto where he visited an environmental regeneration project sponsored by his government as well as a school football coaching clinic organised by England's football association.

He is scheduled to attend Sisulu's memorial service in Pretoria later in the day.

Straw said: "At the memorial service I shall, on behalf of the British government and people, salute Sisulu as a great fighter, South African and citizen of the world."

Sisulu, 90, died at his Johannesburg home on May 5 after a long illness.

President Thabo Mbeki has announced that Sisulu will be honoured with a special official funeral before being buried in Soweto on May 17.

- SAPA