The South African parliament will pay tribute to Nelson Mandela in a special session today.

President Michael D. Higgins will represent the Irish people at a memorial service in Johannesburg tomorrow, while the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore will represent the Government. The two officials will be joined by one of the members of the famous 1984 Dunnes Stores anti-apartheid strike group, who was asked on Saturday to be a part of the official state delegation.

The 10 remaining staff members who took part in the two and a half year protest are also flying to South Africa to pay their respects. Irish trade unions such as Mandate are offering to pay for the former strikers' trips.

This week will mark an official week of mourning in South Africa, in advance of the state funeral which will take place on Sunday 15th December in Mandela's hometown of Qunu in Eastern Cape. Reporter in South Africa John Jack Cornish says large, open spaces are being turned into "mourning parks" for people unable to get into the funeral: