South Africa's first black president 'as well as anyone can expect' of a 91-year-old, says Nelson Mandela Foundation
David Smith in Johannesburg guardian.co.uk, Friday 30 October 2009 14.23 GMT
Former South African President Nelson Mandela at his house in Qunu, Eastern Cape, on his 90th birthday in 2008. Photograph: Reuters
Nelson Mandela is to withdraw almost entirely from public life, it was announced today, after growing speculation about the 91-year-old's health.
South Africa's first black president quipped "Don't call me, I will call you," when he formally retired five years ago, but continued to grace political rallies and other special events.
Mandela, however, "recently decided to cut back his engagements even further and spend more time with his family," said Prof Jakes Gerwel, who chairs the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
The statement came after a week of rumours in South African political and media circles that the anti-apartheid icon was in hospital and possibly nearing the end of his life.
The highly sensitive subject is rarely discussed openly, although occasional controversies erupt around the plans for his funeral and the local and international TV coverage it will attract.
The foundation took the unusual step of issuing a rebuttal of the rumours today. "There has been a great deal of speculation recently about the state of Mr Mandela's health, to the extent where rumours have even been spread that he is extremely ill," Gerwel said.
"The fact is that Mr Mandela is as well as anyone can expect of someone who is 91 years old and who has lived an active and demanding life as he has. He obviously needs to rest more than he has in the past, and indeed to do the things that he enjoys in his well-deserved retirement."
The statement added that Mandela has always been transparent about his health, for example by making a public announcement in 2001 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. "People everywhere can therefore be assured that Mr Mandela and his family will continue this trend and will keep the public informed should there be any significant deterioration in his health. In the meantime, we appeal to all concerned to respect Mr Mandela's privacy and that of his family. The endless speculation often leads to intrusive questioning of those around him."
Mandela's grandson this week laughed off the speculation, saying he had breakfast with the former president and there was no cause for alarm. "I've been with my grandfather this morning," Mandla Zwelivelile Mandela told South Africa's Mail and Guardian Online. "There is nothing wrong with him."
He added: "The old man is elderly now and has routine check-ups – and people get excited about it."
The foundation, which seeks to protect Mandela's name and schedule, this week rebuked Hollywood actor Charlize Theron after she reportedly auctioned off a meeting with him at a charity event.
Theron sold a trip to the 2010 World Cup, a meeting with Mandela and a kiss from her for $140,000 (£85,000) to a female bidder in San Francisco. The foundation said: "A very strict process needs to followed to get a meeting with Mandela. Not even the charity foundations Mandela himself established are allowed to auction off time with him."
Source : http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/30/nelson-mandela-engagements-health
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