Johannesburg  - South Africans have been invited to mourn deceased singer Miriam Makeba at a public memorial service in her native Johannesburg at the weekend, The Star newspaper reported Friday.

Makeba, Africa's first Grammy award winning singer and a leading anti-apartheid activist, died on Sunday in Italy after performing at a concert.

On Wednesday President Kgalema Motlanthe declared national days of mourning leading up to the funeral of the woman, known to her legions of fans worldwide as Mama Africa.

The government has also opened books of condolences at parliament buildings in Pretoria and the presidency offices in Cape Town.

Saturday's memorial service will take place in the Coca-Cola Dome concert venue in northern Johannesburg, which can hold 19,000 people.

Details of what musicians would be performing at the service were not yet available.

Her remains will later be cremated in a private funeral. (dpa)