Obama Wont Visit Madiba
Pretoria-U.S president Barak Obama will not be visiting Nelson Mandela in hospital during his South African tour which starts on Friday.
International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told the media on Tuesday that the former South African president would not want life to stop, just because he was in hospital.
“We will continue to pray for him and wish him well. We will continue to love him as much as he loves us. So, whether we are going to be folding our arms and do nothing because he is in hospital, we do not have such an intention.”
She added that there was no possibility of Obama visiting Mandela in hospital.
“In our tradition, when people are ill, we try to give them space to recover,” she said.
Though people continued to pray for Mandela’s recovery, she said “we are realistic about his age”.
Tuesday saw a flurry of activity around the hospital with prominent men in suits and ties making a turn at the Mediclinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria.
Among the visitors was businessman Calvern Hugo who released 60 doves outside the hospital.
“It symbolises what Madiba did for us as a nation; how he set us free as a nation. We are appreciative of what he did for us,” he said.
Later, a bus full of trainee police officers from the Pretoria West Police College brought flowers.
Brigadier Noma Binqela said this was the trainees’ way of showing their appreciation of Mandela and “to leave something behind that symbolises that we were here”.
Among the family members who visited Mandela yesterday were his former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and daughter Zindzi.
Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba, former Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and SANDF chief General Solly Shoke were also there.
The Presidency said yesterday afternoon that Mandela’s condition had not changed. “Doctors continue to do their best to ensure his recovery, wellbeing and comfort,” it said. President Jacob Zuma said: “We must support him and support his family.”
To mark Mandela’s approaching 95th birthday, Zuma said: “Let us make it the biggest Mandela Day ever on July 18, focusing on doing good all over the country.”
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