ML Scoop: 20 million people in South Africa are needed to sing Happy Birthday to former president Nelson Mandela...

This year in a bid to break a world record. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and Lead SA yesterday announced the attempt to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. "We want to encourage the nation to join in," they said.

Last year, the Basic Education Department and the civic participation group arranged for millions of schoolchildren to sing to Mandela at 8am on his birthday, on July 18.

Lead SA spokesman Yusuf Abramjee said he was confident the public would show their love and affection for Mandela by singing to him on his 94th birthday.

"In addition to the millions of schoolchildren, we want people in offices, in factories and those out on the streets to join in ."

The Shout Foundation, a movement aimed at reducing crime, committed 94 singers to record the song for distribution in the run-up to Mandela's birthday.