Mandela Steadily Improving On 95 Birthday

Nelson Mandela has been reported to be ‘steadily improving’ at a Pretoria hospital as events take place around the world and in South Africa in his honour to mark his 95th birthday.

According to the BBC, South Africans are being urged to mark the former president and anti-apartheid leader’s 67 years of public service with 67 minutes of charitable acts.

Mr Mandela, who is in critical but stable condition with a recurring lung infection, entered hospital on 8 June.

“We are proud to call this international icon our own as South Africans and wish him good health,” said South Africa’s President, Mr Zuma, in a statement.
“We thank all our people for supporting Madiba throughout the hospitalisation with undying love and compassion,” he said, referring to Mr Mandela by his clan name.

Activities throughout the day include:

School-children across the country singing a synchronised Happy Birthday to the former president

Mandela family members handing out gifts to Mamelodi township residents before holding a birthday lunch with Nelson Mandela. They have prepared 95 cupcakes in his honour

President Zuma visiting Mr Mandela in hospital and overseeing the donation of houses to poor white families in the Pretoria area

Volunteers spending 67 minutes each renovating schools and orphanages, cleaning hospitals and distributing food to the poor to mark the former statesman’s 67 years as a lawyer, activist, prisoner and president

Mr Mandela becoming the first recipient of South Africa’s new Smart ID Card, introduced on Thursday. His card will be collected on his behalf by his daughter Zindzi

The forming of a human chain from Johannesburg’s Fashion District into the heart of the city

Graca Machel, Mandela’s current wife said last Friday that she was “less anxious” about his health than before and that he was continuing to respond well to treatment.