Pretoria — President Kgalema Motlanthe has declared four days of national mourning in honour of the late Dr Nthato Motlana.

Starting today and ending on Saturday all national flags at all flag stations in the country will be flown at half-mast.

The 83-year-old Mr Motlana died at a Johannesburg hospital on Monday after a long battle with prostate cancer.

In a statement, President Motlanthe described him as a "hero worthy of praise for his contributions to present-day South Africa."

The well-known anti-apartheid activist stood trial during the 1952 Defiance Campaign Trial, along with former President Mandela.

He was also an accomplished businessman and family physician to the Mandela family.

Mr Motlana's memorial service will be held at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto on Thursday at 1pm. His funeral service will take place at Wits University's Great Hall on Saturday morning at 9am.

He is survived by his wife, Zanele, six children and 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.