Johannesburg: Ailing anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela’s health has deteriorated further, forcing South African President Jacob Zuma on Thursday to cancel his trip to Mozambique.
Zuma visited the gravely ill Mandela late last night. 94-year-old Mandela has been in hospital since June 8 for a recurring lung ailment and his condition has been deteriorating since Sunday. Reports have said that he is on life support as his clan elders gather to address the situation.
Zuma’s decision not to attend the crucial summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) today despite South Africa being a major partner in the bloc, has further highlighted the seriousness of Mandela’s condition. Presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said after Zuma’s late-night visit that Mandela’s condition has worsened over the past 48 hours. Maharaj said doctors had assured Zuma “they are still doing everything they can to ensure Mandela’s wellbeing.”
News of Mandela’s deteriorating health has overshadowed the maiden visit of US President Barak Obama, who is due to arrive in South Africa on Friday and meet Zuma on Saturday.
Mandela’s condition has also raised concerns with organisers of two of South Africa’s biggest events over the next fortnight, the Durban July and the Grahamstown Arts Festival, both of which attract people from around the world. Organisers of both events said they would await the advice of the government on whether to proceed with the events next week.
On Wednesday, Phathekile Holomisa, a traditional leader near Mandela’s ancestral home in Eastern Cape Province, said that while it would be painful to lose the ailing leader, his fate should be ‘left to God’. (PTI)
