admin
Pretoria— Nelson Mandela’s wife Graça Machel has thanked South Africans and others around the world for the messages of support for her husband who is spending a tenth day in hospital yesterday. In a message published by the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Machel said: “So much love and generosity from South Africans, Africans across the continent, and thousands more from across the world, have come our way to lighten the burden of anxiety; bringing us love, comfort and hope.
“The messages have come by letter, by SMS, by phone, by twitter, by Facebook, by email, cards, flowers and the human voice, in particular the voices of children in schools or singing outside our home. We have felt the closeness of the world and the deepest meaning of strength and peace.
“Our gratitude is difficult to express. But the love and peace we feel give yet more life to the simple ‘Thank you!’ ”
The elderly former president is being treated in a Pretoria hospital for a lung infection.
Well-wishers left flags, flowers, balloons and get-well-soon cards at the entrance to the Pretoria hospital where Mandela is being treated.
Colourful messages were printed on large pieces of paper and cardboard attached to the hospital’s wall next to the security checkpoint.
Some of the messages read: “Get well soon from the sickness. Long live.”
“From Lazarus in Atteridgeville”. Another read: “I love you Tata Mandela. From Sharon Duduza”.
Mandela (94), was hospitalised in the early hours of 8 June.
President Jacob Zuma told a Youth Day celebration on Sunday in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, that Mandela’s health has shown improvement despite his still being in a serious condition.
“We are grateful that he continues to get better. Over the last two days, although his condition remains serious, his doctors have stated that his improvement has been sustained,” Zuma said.
Meanwhile, Mandela’s ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela arrived at the Pretoria hospital yesterday.
Madikizela-Mandela arrived at the Medi-Clinic Heart hospital after 1300hours in a black Audi.
Mandela’s daughters, Zenani and Makaziwe and step-daughter Josina Machel were also at the hospital.
Josina, who is the daughter of Mandela’s wife Graça and the late Samora Machel, former president of Mozambique, arrived at the hospital with another woman. Unlike members of the Mandela family her car was searched by police at the entrance.
Several clergymen from the Methodist Church had also arrived. Family members went to look at the messages of support left at the hospital entrance for the ailing icon who was spending his tenth day in hospital.
They took some of the cards and flowers back into the hospital with them.
Well-wishers had left flags, flowers, balloons and get-well-soon cards at the entrance of the hospital.
Two flags were tied onto the hospital’s security wall along Celliers Street. A message on one of the flags read: “The long walk to freedom continues”. — Sapa
Online Reporter