People should stop talking about Mandela as if he were dead, African National Congress treasurer general Mathews Phosa said on Sunday.
“The national leadership of the ANC will continue to celebrate and feel Mandela’s moral support,” he said at a prayer meeting in East London for ailing former president Nelson Mandela.
Phosa thanked people for supporting the Mandela family.
“Prayer was the foundation and the pillar of the ANC when it was formed,” he said.
Other ANC national executive committee members who attended the prayer service at the Regent Hotel were defence committee chairman Mnyamezeli Booi, Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel and Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba.
The Eastern Cape premier Noxolo Kiviet was also present.
‘Fearless freedom fighter’
Mandela had taught the world of the importance of unity, forgiveness and reconciliation, President Jacob Zuma told African leaders following a world-wide panic over the health of the elderly statesman last week.
“We wish him a long life and good health, as he continues to age with dignity and inspire all of us to strive to be better people each day,” Zuma told the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday.
“This fearless freedom fighter, like many others who were presidents of the ANC before him, taught us the importance of unity, forgiveness and reconciliation.
“He taught us to be forward looking and to use the past as a reference point to ensure that we never go back to racial oppression, hatred and fear of one another as South Africans,” said Zuma.
He was speaking at a symposium marking the centenary of the ANC, on the sidelines of the summit.
The conference was themed: “The Liberation Struggle and shared values: Achievements, Lessons and the Future”.
“We truly appreciate the support and good wishes we received when he [Mandela] was in hospital this week,” said Zuma.
Shared values of freedom
The conference was attended by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, former president of Zambia Kenneth Kaunda, and ANC chairperson Baleka Mbethe.
It was being held to celebrate the shared values of freedom, justice, democracy, good governance and prosperity of the African people, presidential spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said in a statement.
It also aimed to promote the lessons from the liberation struggle and how these should translate into a better life for all on the continent.
Zuma’s comments followed the admission of the 92-year-old statesman to Milpark Hospital during the week for treatment of an acute respiratory infection.
Mandela’s hospitalisation and the information blackout which surrounded it, resulted in a frenzy of activity at the hospital and at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg.
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has since acknowledged that the flow of information could have been better.
Sunday newspapers have reported the information vacuum was caused by disagreements over how the matter should have been handled.
‘Responding well’
Former president Nelson Mandela is responding “well” to medication and treatment, the Surgeon General of the South African Defence Force said on Sunday.
“This morning [Sunday] the medical team looking after the former President has reported that he has had a restful and peaceful night,” Lieutenant General Vejay Ramlakan said in a statement.
Ramlakan said 24-hour care and close monitoring from a team of specialists would continue.
Mandela continued to be visited by close family and relatives.
Small media crews remained outside his Houghton home on Sunday afternoon, with only the occasional tour bus passing by to take pictures of the house and journalists.
A little girl was also seen delivering a ‘get well’ card for Mandela to one of the security guards in the late afternoon.
Earlier on Sunday Brigadier-General Zola Dabula said Mandela was “fine” outside the recuperating former president’s Houghton home.
Dabula, who is part of the team of military medical staff monitoring Mandela’s progress, would not say more.
Visitors
Mandela’s grandson Mandla was among the first to pop in for a visit on Sunday.
During the day, Rivonia treason trialist Andrew Mlangeni arrived.
“He looks bright,” Mlangeni said after almost an hour with Mandela. “They say he is responding well to treatment and what pleased me most, he is able to recognise us.”
Like Mandela, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for his part in the struggle against apartheid.
The sprightly Mlangeni took a minute to speak to the media after his visit. “Every now and then he opens his eyes and says ‘hello, hello, hello’,” Mlangeni said on Sunday, smiling at the way Mandela usually greeted people.
He left as relatives of Mandela’s wife Graça Machel walked over from their house nearby for a visit.
Among those seen at the house on Sunday were Mandela’s long-time aide Zelda la Grange, who strolled along the pavement with a man.
On Sunday, television crews set up slowly to relay images of visitors to Mandela’s Houghton home.
Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane offered prayers for Mandela and lit a candle of hope in a service at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church, in Soweto.
Mandela’s visitors have been restricted to family, close friends and medical staff. — Sapa