Anxiety heightens about Mandela's condition

 

By Neville Meena  

In Summary

• The president’s spokesperson, Mr Mac Maharaj, was quoted by local media as saying that Zuma cancelled the trip due to “seriousness” of Mandela’s condition at the time of the visit.

Johannesburg. The cancellation of President Jacob Zuma’s trip to Mozambique mid this week increased concerns and speculations over the health status of former South Africa President Nelson Mandela.

Zuma’s trip was cancelled on Wednesday night after he paid the anti–apartheid icon a visit. Mr Mandela is undergoing medical treatment for lung infection in a Pretoria-based heart hospital, Mediclinic.

The South Africa leader was scheduled to travel to Maputo yesterday morning to attend the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) meeting.

The president’s spokesperson, Mr Mac Maharaj, was quoted by local media as saying that Zuma cancelled the trip due to “seriousness” of Mandela’s condition at the time of the visit.

Some people interviewed in Johannesburg yesterday, said the cancellation of Zuma’s trip to Maputo posted a clear massage to South Africans that their President “has a big secret in his heart” regarding Mandela’s health instability.

In connection to that, a number of people flocking Mandela’s residence at Houghton 12 Laan Street in Johannesburg has increased, compared to a day before.

Some entrances to the residence remained closed, as a measure to control the number of people visiting the place. Only journalists and residences of the area were allowed.

An old man, who identified himself as a good friend of Mandela said: “We are passing through a difficult moment; it has come the time Madiba is in the condition that nobody can afford to assist, except the living God.”

“Perhaps, our President (Zuma) has a secret in his heart as we were told that Madiba was on life support,” he stressed. Another Johannesburg resident, Ms Bono Boya, told this paper that South Africans are eager to mark the 95th birthday of Madiba with him, come the 18th of next month.

“Reports from the hospital suggest that he is on life support, so we urge our government to continue with that until the time he reaches 95 years. It’s not very far, we love him, we love Madiba,” she said.

Meanwhile, latest reports said that President Zuma visited Mandela in hospital yesterday and was informed by the medical team that the former South African leader’s condition has improved during the course of the night.

“He remains critical, but is now stable,” said the State House report.