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.”
Associated Press reports
that 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.
Mandela has been
particularly vulnerable to respiratory problems since contracting tuberculosis
during 27 years as the prisoner of the white racist government. The bulk of that
period was spent on Robben Island, off the coast of Cape Town where Mandela and
other prisoners spent part of the time toiling in a stone quarry.
He was freed in 1990, and
then embarked on peacemaking efforts during the tense transition that saw the
demise of the apartheid system and his own election as president in 1994.
The former leader retired
from public life years ago and had received medical care at his Johannesburg
home until his latest transfer to a hospital.
Culled from Punch newspaper
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