Relatives of former South African president Nelson Mandela gathered at his
home Tuesday as the ailing icon remained in critical condition.
Prior to the meeting, Mandela’s grandson, Ndaba, was seen at what is
believed to be his grandfather’s gravesite in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on
Tuesday, City Press tweeted.
More relatives have also visited a gravesite in Qunu where all deceased
members of the Mandela family are buried, the Mail & Guardian reported on
Tuesday.
The site is situated a few metres from Mandela’s younger brother Morris’s
house, and just across the street from Madiba’s Qunu home.
The private gravesite is where all the Mandela family members are buried.
It is not clear at this stage what this delegation is doing at the site, but
often in Xhosa custom, a family visits a gravesite when they sense that a
member might soon join the ancestors, or to speak to the ancestors to spare
them for a while longer.
Also, hundreds of messages of love and support have been left outside the
hospital where Mandela is said to be in a “critical condition.”
As fears for Mandela’s health worsen, well-wishers have flocked to the
hospital to leave letters, cards and flowers along the outside of the building.
The presidency said earlier that Mandela’s condition was “unchanged”
and that doctors are doing their best “to ensure his recovery, well-being and
comfort.”
The anti-apartheid leader was hospitalized in Pretoria more than two weeks
ago for a lung infection.
For the meeting, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Public Service and
Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and United Democratic Movement leader
Bantu Holomisa arrived in Qunu Tuesday morning for a “family briefing” that was
rumoured to have been called by Makaziwe, Mandela’s daughter.
Scores of journalist have been banned from crossing the N2 and restricted to
parking across the street from the house.
Among those who arrived at the homestead were Mandla Mandela, Thanduxolo
Mandela, Ndaba Mandela and Ndileka Mandela. Also present was chief Bhovulengwe
of the AbaThembu royal council. The family meeting had yet to start by 10.30am.
It was delayed because some family members were not aware of the meeting and
attempts were then made to contact them.
Meanwhile, no family members were seen at the hospital on Tuesday. Mandela’s
only visitors were his medical team, who arrived shortly after 8:00 a.m.
Napilisi Mandela, an elder in the Mandela family, confirmed that the meeting
would go ahead as planned and was called to discuss delicate matters pertaining
to the anti-apartheid icon.
Napilisi Mandela usually presides over the family’s meetings and rituals.
Another close relative, Silumko Mandela, said final arrangements for the
meeting were still being made.
“Many of us in the village were not aware and we were only told this
morning, so a number of Mandela elders still need to be transported to Qunu for
the meeting,” said Silumko Mandela.
Mandela on Tuesday spent his third day in a critical condition, and his 18th
day in total in a hospital in Pretoria.
Two dove breeders from Johannesburg released about 100 doves outside the
hospital in an apparent plea for peace in South Africa once Mandela dies. One
of the breeders, Thomas Coutts, told the Mail & Guardian the doves also
symbolised South Africa’s affection for Mandela.
“He gave us our freedom and peace. We pray for peace and prosperity even
after he dies. This is our way of showing our gratitude to him,” Coutts said.
