Nelson Mandela has spent almost a month in Pretoria’s Mediclinic Heart Hospital and there has been much speculation about the state of his health.
According to a report Thursday from the French news agency, the anti-apartheid icon is in a vegetative state.
“Mandela’s health is ‘perilous’ and he is being kept alive by life support, according to documents filed in the court case that resulted in the remains of the former president’s three deceased children being reburied Thursday in their original graves.
“The anticipation of his impending death is based on real and substantial grounds,” the court filing said.” – usatoday.com
“That report , however, is being countered by the South African government as well as friends and family of Mandela.
“The South African government has denied a report that former president Nelson Mandela is in a vegetative state…A statement from the presidency cites doctors as denying the report, and it reiterates an earlier statement that Mandela remains in critical but stable condition.
“A close friend and fellow anti-apartheid activist, Denis Goldberg, told reporters Friday that when he visited Mandela earlier in the week, the former president was conscious. Goldberg said that Mandela was responsive to what he was saying.” – voanews.com
“Nelson Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel, has spoken about her husband’s condition in hospital.
Referring to Mr Mandela by his clan name, she said: ‘Although Madiba may be uncomfortable, very few times he is in pain, he is fine.
‘The best gift that he has given is the gift of unity,’ she said.
Graca Machel was speaking at a fundraising drive for a children’s hospital that will be named after the 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader.” – BBC
As the world reflects on the health of the former Mandela, his family has been mired in legal woes.
Recently there was a legal fight brought on by his daughters, Zenani and Makaziwe, over who should manage the anti-apartheid icon’s assets.
