PRESIDENT Nelson Mandela and Ms Graca Machel, widow of former Mozambican president Samora Machel, are involved in a serious relationship, Mr Mandela's office said yesterday.
"It's quite serious and everyone that works for the president respects this relationship and we assist in making his life as comfortable as possible," said presidential spokesman Mr Parks Mankahlana.
He added that while the 78 year old South African leader has no immediate plans to marry 50 year old Ms Machel, "he obviously wants the companionship of a close, friend."
While rumours of the relationship have been circulating since Mr Mandela was officially divorced from his former wife, Winnie, in March, the president has avoided the subject.
The South African Sunday Independent newspaper, however, reported that the South African leader is now ready to go public. Quoting sources close to the president, the newspaper said Mr Mandela is smitten with the attractive Mozambican. "His face lights up at the mention of her name," the newspaper said.
It added that Ms Machel, who is a popular figure in Mozambique, planned to spend two weeks of every month at Mr Mandela's home in Johannesburg's plush Houghton suburb and the rest of the time in her home country.
Mr Mandela and Ms Machel first met in 1990 when Mr Mandela succeeded late ANC president Oliver Tamho as godfather to Ms Machel's seven children.
Samora Machel, one of Africa's most celebrated liberation leaders was a close ally of the ANC when the movement was outlawed by the former white minority South African government. He died in an air crash in South Africa, near the Mozambican border in October, 1986.
Ms Machel is said to be a private person who is very involved in community work and in the plight of children in Africa, overseeing an office of the United Nations Children's Fund in Pretoria.