Jacob Zuma: we hope Mandela will be out of hospital soon
South African President Jacob Zuma says he hopes Nelson Mandela could soon be discharged, as the former South African president spends his 22nd day in hospital.
Despite Mr Mandela’s apparently grave condition, the current South African president said: “We hope very soon he will be out of hospital.”
He added that the nation should continue praying for Mr Mandela.
Mr Zuma said Mr Mandela’s condition “remains critical, but stable. Nothing has changed”.
‘Shine as a beacon’
President Zuma’s comments during a joint press conference with US president Barack Obama, who is in South Africa as the second stop on his three nation African tour.
During the conference, Mr Obama said: “My thoughts and those of Americans and people all around the world are with Nelson Mandela and his family, and all South Africans.
“The struggle here, against apartheid, for freedom, Madiba’s (Mr Mandela’s) moral courage, this country’s historic transition to a free and democratic nation, has been a personal inspiration to me, it has been an inspiration to the world, and it continues to be, in so many regions that are divided by conflict, sectarian disputes, religious or ethnic wars, to see what happened in South Africa, the power of principle, and people standing up for what’s right, I think continues to shine as a beacon.”
Out of deference to Nelson Mandela’s peace and comfort and the family’s wishes, they will not be visiting the hospital. White House statement
Speculation mounted earlier this week as to whether Mr Obama would visit the anti-aparthied hero in hospital. On Saturday the White House said president and first lady, Michelle, would meet with members of the 94-year-old Mr Mandela’s family “to offer their thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”
“Out of deference to Nelson Mandela’s peace and comfort and the family’s wishes, they will not be visiting the hospital,” the White House said in a statement.
However, the White House also said Mr Obama would not be visiting Mr Mandela. The meeting took place at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory at the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Michelle Obama was not present for the meeting.
#mandela #madiba #obama President Zuma and one of his wives greet Barack & Michelle Obama in Pretoria pic.twitter.com/9a7fGYrUMT
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) June 29, 2013
Mr Obama has called Mandela a “personal hero” and is due to make a tour on Sunday of Robben Island, the former penal colony where South Africa’s first black president passed 18 of the 27 years he spent in apartheid jails.
