THE South African President, Mr Nelson Mandela, has bought a new home, chosen by his sweetheart Ms Graca Machel, a local newspaper reported yesterday.
The couple had looked at several mansions on sale near his residence in Johannesburg's Houghton area and Mr Mandela decided to buy the one chosen by Ms Machel, the Sunday Times said.
Ms Machel, the widow of Mozambique's former president, Samora Machel, officially lives in her home country, but spends a couple of weeks each month with Mr Mandela.
The paper said Mr Mandela was believed to be paying 2.1 million rand (£315,000) to its previous white owner, who emigrated to Australia. Mandela would share the house with his grandchildren and sell the old property.
The couple have said they have no intention of getting married, a decision criticised by Archbishop Desmond Tutu as a bad example to young people.