Mandela wedding an April Fool's hoax

A presidential spokesperson in South Africa has denied reports that President Nelson Mandela has secretly married his companion, Graca Machel, the 52-year-old widow of the Mozambican president.

Yesterday, the couple sailed into Cape Town after three days spent together cruising on a British luxury liner QEII.

The spokesperson, Parks Mankahlana, said rumours of the 79-year-old Mr Mandela marrying Graca Machel on board the ship was an April Fool's story.

President Mandela divorced his wife, Winnie in 1996.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service