Mandela announced Thursday that he would join international and local musicians at the HIV/AIDS awareness concert scheduled on March 19 at the Fan court golf estate in George, South Africa.

South Africa's former president and international icon Nelson Mandela will use his huge influence at a high-profile concert next month to further raise public awareness on HIV/AIDS, particularly on protection of women and children.

Mandela announced here Thursday that he would join international and local musicians at the HIV/AIDS awareness concert scheduled on March 19 at the Fan court golf estate in George, South Africa.

South Africa must protect its women and children, who are six times more likely to contract HIV/AIDS, before it is too late, 86-year-old Mandela told a press conference.

"I am calling on South Africans, now more than ever before, to protect our young women and girls. Our future depends on them and we and the world must recognize our responsibility to them," he said.

Mandela said the concert, a successor of the globally-witnessed concert in Cape Town in 2003, was "another opportunity for the South African public and especially local music fans to show their commitment to our country's future."

The concert will feature four international acts and 12 local acts and tickets will be limited to 20,000 people. Hollywood movie star Will Smith will be master of ceremonies to introduce world famous artists including Queen, Paul Rogers, Annie Lennox, India Arie and Katie Melua.

Editor: Catherine