Over 20 million South Africans are needed to celebrate the birthday of former president Nelson Mandela in record breaking style.

At a press conference held on Tuesday, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga (pictured) and Lead SA announced plans to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records by having almost half of the country’s population sing Happy Birthday to Madiba on his birthday (July 18th).

“We want to encourage the nation to join in,” they said in a statement.

Last year, the Basic Education Department and the civic participation group coordinated a massive birthday sing-along for Madiba, that involved  millions of schoolchildren belting out Happy Birthday at 8am on his date of birth.

Lead SA spokesman Yusuf Abramjee said he was certain the public would come out in force to demonstrate their love and respect for the Nobel Prize winning struggle Icon.

“In addition to the millions of schoolchildren, we want people in offices, in factories and those out on the streets to join in,” he said, according to TimesLIVE.