South Africans Celebrate Mandela’s Birthday

[High_Gravity]

South Africans Celebrate Mandela’s Birthday

Millions of South Africans are celebrating the birthday of Nelson Mandela, who turned 93 Monday.

South African schoolchildren began their day by singing a special birthday song for Mr. Mandela, while many adults heeded his call to mark the day by performing community service.

The anti-apartheid icon celebrated with family and friends at his home in the town of Qunu. South African President Jacob Zuma was due to pay him a visit later in the day.

In a statement, President Zuma said Mr. Mandela “laid the foundation” for a solid democracy in South Africa, but that more work still needs to be done to address poverty and improve the lives of children.

U.S. President Barack Obama called Mr. Mandela “a beacon for the global community, and for all who work for democracy, justice and reconciliation.”

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate led the struggle to bring down South Africa's system of white minority rule and discrimination against blacks. In 1994, he became the country's first black president.

The United Nations designated the former leader's birthday as Nelson Mandela Day in 2009, with a call for individuals to do 67 minutes of community service to represent the number of years he spent in politics.

South Africans Celebrate Mandela’s Birthday « VOA Breaking News

 

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Obama said the world should pray that Mandela gets better...

South Africa: Mandela making progress in hospital
29 Mar.`13 — Nelson Mandela is making "steady progress" while being treated for a recurring lung infection and he had a full breakfast on Friday, South African authorities said.

The office of President Jacob Zuma released a statement in which it said the former president and anti-apartheid leader was in good spirits after being taken late Wednesday to a hospital in the capital, Pretoria. "The doctors report that he is making steady progress. He remains under treatment and observation in hospital," the statement said. "We would like to repeat our appeal for the media and the public to respect the privacy of Madiba and his family," it said, using Mandela's clan name, a term of affection.

It is 94-year-old Mandela's third trip to a hospital since December. At that time, he spent three weeks in a hospital in Pretoria, where he was treated for a lung infection and had a procedure to remove gallstones. Earlier this month, he was hospitalized overnight for what authorities said was a successful, scheduled medical test. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been particularly vulnerable to respiratory problems since contracting tuberculosis during his 27-year imprisonment for fighting white racist rule in his country.

President Barack Obama said Thursday he was concerned about Mandela's health, but noted he was as strong physically as he has been in leadership and character. Obama said he was sending his thoughts and prayers to Mandela, and he described him as a hero and an inspiration who gave everything to his people.

Zuma's office said Thursday that doctors were acting with extreme caution because of the advanced age of Mandela, who has become increasingly frail in recent years. Mandela, who became South Africa's first black president in 1994, is a revered figure in his homeland, which has named buildings and other places after him and uses his image on national bank notes.

South Africa: Mandela making progress in hospital

 

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Desmond Tutu describes Mandela as an "extraordinary gift" to South Africa...

Mandela remains in serious but stable condition
Jun 10,`13 -- Nelson Mandela was in serious but stable condition in a Pretoria hospital for the third day Monday with a recurring lung infection, and a foundation led by retired archbishop Desmond Tutu described the 94-year-old anti-apartheid hero as an "extraordinary gift" to South Africa.

As family members visited South Africa's first black president in the hospital, the government announced - in only the second communication on Mandela since he was hospitalized on Saturday - that his condition was "unchanged." A statement issued for the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation described Mandela as "the beloved father of our nation" and offered prayers for a man seen by many around the world as a symbol of reconciliation because of his peacemaking role when white racist rule ended in South Africa.

Mandela "once again endures the ravages of time in hospital," said the Cape Town-based foundation, which was founded by Tutu and his wife Leah to promote peace. "We offer our thanks to God for the extraordinary gift of Mr. Mandela, and wish his family strength." Tutu, 81, was also vigorous campaigner against apartheid, which ended when all-race elections were held in 1994 and Mandela president. Like Mandela, Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts on behalf of his compatriots. Mandela shared his prize with F.W. de Klerk, the last president of the apartheid era. "We send our blessings to the doctors and nurses responsible for his care," Tutu's foundation said.

Meanwhile, the African National Congress, South Africa's ruling party, dismissed as false a report in Monday's edition of The Star newspaper that Mandela's family had barred senior party leaders and government officials from visiting the hospital. On April 29, state television broadcast footage of a visit to Mandela's home by President Jacob Zuma and other ANC leaders. Zuma said then that Mandela was in good shape, but the footage - the first public images of Mandela in nearly a year - showed him silent and unresponsive, even when Zuma tried to hold his hand.

Some South Africans said that showing images of a clearly ill Mandela was inappropriate and appeared to reflect an attempt by the ruling party to benefit politically from its association with Mandela, a former ANC head, in the run-up to national elections next year. The party denied the accusation. In its brief statement on Mandela's health, the presidency said Zuma "reiterates his call for South Africa to pray for Madiba and the family during this time," referring to Mandela by his clan name. Mandela has been hospitalized several times in recent months. During a hospital stay that ended April 6, doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia and drained fluid from his chest.

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See also:

Nelson Mandela: Is it time for South Africa to let him go?
10 June 2013 > So deep is the affection in South Africa for the country's first black President, Nelson Mandela, that the thought of his passing seems incomprehensible.

But deep down the millions who adore him know that that day is inevitable. Following a string of health scares in the recent past, South Africans are beginning to come to terms with the mortality of their 94-year-old icon. Still, this in an uncomfortable topic here. Somadoda Fikeni, head of the South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra), puts it this way: "We no longer have an icon on his level, not only here in South Africa but in the world. "People see him as the antidote to the current social ills we are faced with. That is why people are still holding on to him."

Impossible love

South Africans see Mr Mandela as the glue that is holding the country together and believe that the social challenges of crime, poverty, corruption and unemployment can only be overcome if they have him to inspire the country's leaders to greatness. It might be too high an aspiration to place on one individual, but in the eyes of many here, Mr Mandela is no mere individual. Nevertheless, for the first time it seems that the tone surrounding Mr Mandela's increasingly frail health is beginning to change. The Sunday Times newspaper at the weekend led with the headline: "It's time to let him go."

Many people still see Nelson Mandela as the antidote to current social ills

A blunt phrase bound to cause discomfort for the family and indeed many others in South Africa. But these were not the words of someone who is nonchalant about what Mr Mandela represents to this country. These were the words of a dear friend and fellow Robben Island prisoner, Andrew Mlangeni, upon hearing that Mr Mandela had again been admitted to hospital. "The family must release him so that God may have his own way with him... once the family releases him, the people of South Africa will follow," Mr Mlangeni was quoted as saying.

Many are fully aware of Mr Mandela's poor health and advanced age, but almost in the same breath they say they want him to live for many more years. It's an extraordinary relationship, an impossible love. At dinner tables South Africans talk about the Nobel Laureate's need to rest but none utter the phrase that could change it all: "Siyakukhulula tata" - Xhosa for "We release you, father". According to Isintu - traditional South African culture - the very sick do not die unless the family "releases" them spiritually - only then will they be at peace in surrendering to death.

Culturally, this practice is seen as "permission" to die and this permission needs to be given by the family; it is reassurance from loved ones that they will be fine. Mr Fikeni says that the other reason a person fights death is because they have unfinished business. "It may be that squabbling within his family is troubling him and that needs to be addressed while he is still here. He may not be well received on the other side until these issues have been resolved." This may be a reference to a recent court case which has seen an attempt by Mr Mandela's daughters, Makaziwe and Zenani, to oust three of his aides from companies linked to him.

Unenviable task

 

[LAfrique]

South Africans Celebrate Mandela’s Birthday

Millions of South Africans are celebrating the birthday of Nelson Mandela, who turned 93 Monday.

South African schoolchildren began their day by singing a special birthday song for Mr. Mandela, while many adults heeded his call to mark the day by performing community service.

The anti-apartheid icon celebrated with family and friends at his home in the town of Qunu. South African President Jacob Zuma was due to pay him a visit later in the day.

In a statement, President Zuma said Mr. Mandela “laid the foundation” for a solid democracy in South Africa, but that more work still needs to be done to address poverty and improve the lives of children.

U.S. President Barack Obama called Mr. Mandela “a beacon for the global community, and for all who work for democracy, justice and reconciliation.”

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate led the struggle to bring down South Africa's system of white minority rule and discrimination against blacks. In 1994, he became the country's first black president.

The United Nations designated the former leader's birthday as Nelson Mandela Day in 2009, with a call for individuals to do 67 minutes of community service to represent the number of years he spent in politics.

South Africans Celebrate Mandela’s Birthday « VOA Breaking News

I am glad freedom fighter Nelson Mandela lived to see his dreams for his country come to fruition. I am however disturbed by people who do not seem to realize that past 70 years of age, a person in fact lives on bonus years.

Thus, it is selfish and inhumane to keep propping the failed organs of seniors such as Nelson Mandela and George H. Bush who have lived past their full human lifespan. When a person has lived past the expected human lifespan of 70 years, please let him/her take needed rest.