Johannesburg: As South Africa celebrated the 10th anniversary of its freedom, the country's top leadership heaped lavish praise on India hailing its role in putting an end to apartheid and describing it as a "giant".

Taking time off a hectic schedule in the midst of Government formation and bilateral meetings with over 40 heads of State and Government, who are here to attend the 10th anniversary celebrations of South Africa's freedom, Deputy President Jacob Zuma specially drove from Pretoria to Johannesburg to meet visiting Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

India had a "special place in the hearts" of all South Africans as it was the "voice" of the liberation struggles of South Africa and many countries ever since it got independence, he told Shekhawat.

He said many of the policies and approaches of the South African Government were "influenced" by India and even the country's father figure Nelson Mandela insisted on following the Indian model while constituting the national executive of the ruling African National Congress in terms of reflecting the "diversity" in this rainbow nation.

Describing India as an economic "giant", the Deputy President said greater cooperation between the two countries was "crucial" to ensure a level playing field as the international financial institutions were shaped by developed countries and "did not take into account the aspirations of the developing nations".