Elba, 41, missed a news conference in Johannesburg yesterday promoting Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.
The film’s producer Anant Singh said the actor was expected to be at a red-carpet event today.
Elba is best known for playing a drug lord in US TV series The Wire.
The British actor rose to fame in the role as drug lord Russell "Stringer" Bell, before joining BBC One series Luther, where he was awarded a Golden Globe for his critically acclaimed role as Detective John Luther.
