18 Jul 2011

Nelson Mandela celebrates 93rd birthday

As Nelson Mandela celebrates his 93rd birthday, South Africans are being urged to do 67 minutes of voluntary work to mark the 67 years Mandela spent fighting apartheid.

As Nelson Mandela celebrates his 93rd birthday, South Africans are being urged to do 67 minutes of voluntary work to mark the 67 years Mandela spent fighting aparthied (Reuters)

Nelson Mandela marked his 93rd birthday with his family at home in Qunu in the Eastern Cape where he was also visited by President Jacob Zuma.

To mark this milestone the Nelson Mandela Foundation has called for people to do 67 minutes of voluntary work to symbolise the 67 years the former President spent fighting apartheid.

Millions of children across South Africa sung a special Happy Birthday composition to Mandela.

President Zuma paid tribute to the anti-apartheid icon, saying he had changed the course of history.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation released pictures of the former leader celebrating at home surrounded by his family.

The occasion came on the same day that Prime Minister David Cameron visited South Africa on a trade mission to the continent.

The PM said it was “a great honour” to be in the country to toast Mr Mandela, who he described as “an inspiration to the world”.

Nelson Mandela photo gallery: a life in pictures

In addition more than 12 million school children will sing a special song composed for the occasion.

Nelson Mandela is a hero to millions of people around the globe for his role in ending apartheid in South Africa.

He spent 27 years of his life in prison and was finally released in 1990.

The former South African President has not been seen in public since the football World Cup in 2010.

There were fears for Mr Mandela’s health in January when he was taken into hospital after developing an acute respiratory infection.

At the time South Africa’s Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said: “We should remain calm and continue with our prayers that Madiba should be with us to celebrate his 93rd birthday in July, and beyond.”