SA to honour Slovo with state funeral

Johannesburg - Joe Slovo, the South African Housing Minister and Communist leader who died on Friday, will be given a state funeral, President Nelson Mandela said yesterday. Mr Mandela said Mr Slovo, who died of cancer, would be buried on 15 Janua ry in Johannesburg.

"Comrade Joe Slovo's funeral will be accorded the highest possible status by the government so that this hero of the South African people is bid farewell in a fitting manner," Mr Mandela said. "The day of the burial will be an official day of mourning, and flags will fly at half-mast in the capitals of all the provinces." Reuter