NEW DELHI, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Minister of State for Coal Sri Prakash Jaiswal left for South Africa on Monday to discuss the buying of the house where Mahatma Gandhi lived in South Africa and it would later be turned into a memorial, said Indian officials.

    On the eve of his departure for South Africa, Jaiswal said the coal ministry will purchase the house and build a memorial on it, after the coal ministry has announced that it intends to purchase the house.

    Jaiswal is accompanied by officials of the government-owned company Coal India Limited to finalize the deal during his five-day stay in South Africa.

    Situated at No 15, Pine Road, in the serene suburb of Orchards in Johannesburg, the oval-shaped-style house 'The Kraal' was designed by Gandhi's confidant and architect Hermann Kallenbach.

    Gandhi lived in this house for two years between 1908-09 while practicing as an advocate and fighting racial discrimination in South Africa.

    Ministry officials said the owner, Nancy Ball, who has been living in the house for over 20 years, was now keen to shift to Cape Town.

    "I will meet the owner and find out if she is ready to sell the house. If neither she nor the South African government have any objections, the decks will be cleared," said Jaiswal on Sunday.