1. Wide shot of Mandela and the Premier of Greenland Lars Emil Johansen standing with cheque and statue of Mandela.

English/Nat

South African President Nelson Mandela has received an unusual early Christmas present from children in Greenland.

The children voted Mandela as Santa of the Year - and he was presented with a life-size wax statue of himself dressed as Santa Claus plus a cheque for 100-thousand U-S dollars towards the President's Children's Fund.

South African President Nelson Mandela was clearly delighted as he stood next to his double - a life-sized model of him dressed as Santa Claus.

The President, who has been made Santa of the Year by youngsters in Greenland for his charity work with children, received a boost for his Children's Fund Charity - a cheque for 100-thousand U-S dollars presented by the Greenland Premier Lars Emil Johansen.

SOUNDBITE:

"To get a Santa Claus prize is a great honour but to be the very first to get that honour is more than I can put in words and we are very grateful indeed that a country which is geographically so far away should indicate to our children that they care and I'm tremendously impressed and this is what I have said to the Prime Minister. Thank you very much."

SUPERCAPTION: Nelson Mandela, South African President

Mandela has repeatedly proved his love for children, whose company he sorely missed during his 27-year imprisonment.

One of his first actions after becoming South Africa's first black president in May 1994 was to set up a children's charity to which he donates one-third of his annual salary for the next five years.

The fund also receives donations from almost every leader who visits South Africa.