President Cyril Ramaphosa departs South Africa on Thursday night to attend the “homegoing celebration of life” for the late Reverend Jesse Jackson in Chicago on Saturday.
Ramaphosa is expected to speak at the event at the request of the Jackson family.
The funeral is on Saturday following a more public homegoing ceremony on Friday also in Chicago, which is expected to be attended by the whose who of Democratic Party politics in the United States.
Former first families the Bidens, Obamas and Clintons are expected at the Friday event at the House of Hope, a 10 000-seat arena in Chicago.
Jackson passed away last month at the age of 84 after battling a neurological disorder that affected his speech and mobility in addition to a long-standing Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Performances are expected from singer and actress Jennifer Hudson in addition to gospel greats Pastor Marvin and Bebe Winans.
Remarks are expected from the Governor of Illinois J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Ramaphosa earlier praised Jackson as a global moral authority who devoted himself to the cause of justice as a human endeavour without borders.
In 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Reverend Jesse Jackson took part in the Gandhi Walk event.
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