But Presidential spokesman Parks Mankahlana rejected the reports as ``rumour'' that had been ``circulating for a while''.

According to the Star newspaper, the ceremony was due to take place at Mandela's private residence in Houghton, Johannesburg on Saturday.

The chief magistrate of the city had been asked to officiate, the publication said, while the Department of Home Affairs had been asked to sort out formalities around Machel's status as a Mozambican citizen.

The 52-year-old Machel is the widow of former Mozambican President Samora Machel, and is the woman Mandela credits for making him ``bloom like a flower.'' Mandela met Machel in 1990 shortly after his release from prison but became romantically linked to her only after his separation from his second wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. The Star said Mandela'soffice had been reluctant to release details of his programme on Saturday.