South African President Thabo Mbeki was to leave for Japan on Monday to attend a two-day meeting on African development, the foreign ministry announced.The South African leader has been under fire at home over his handling of a wave of anti-immigrant violence that has left 56 dead and 35,000 displaced.
He has yet to visit areas affected by the violence and faced a front-page demand from a national newspaper to step down at the weekend.
"South African President Thabo Mbeki ... will today depart for Yokohama, Japan," a statement from the foreign ministry said.
He is to attend the International Conference on African Development from Wednesday to Friday which has "Towards a Vibrant Africa: A Continent of Hope and Opportunity" as its title.
Mbeki would use the opportunity "to consolidate relations with Japan with a view to strengthening North-South relations," the statement added. - AFP
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