Mandela is NOT on life support
Grave being prepared for Mandela family members
NELSON Mandela is not on life support and is fighting hard for his life, according to sources close to the family.
“Like someone of his age who is sick, he is struggling. It is hard,” said the source. “But he is fighting.” Although not on life support equipment, he reportedly does receive assistance at times.
While the liberation struggle icon battles for his life, his close family called on Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba to pray for him. Makgoba said he could feel the pain and anxiety of those close to Madiba when praying together for a peaceful relief from his pain and for God to grant him a “perfect end”.
The bishop visited Mandela at the Mediclinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria on Tuesday to offer spiritual support to his family, wife Graça and the medical staff.
Yesterday, before leaving the country for speaking engagements in Europe, Makgoba said the icon’s bedside was a “guarded place”.
Like someone of his age who is sick, he is struggling. It is hard. But he is fighting.
But Makgoba entered into deep prayer with Mandela’s “most loved ones”, and described the visit as a “huis besoek” – humble pastoral work. “I think we are all afraid to let him go because he has been such an icon and a wonderful human being. We do not have such human beings come and go.
“So it is just the enormity of him being greater than life that is overpowering us.” With speculation rife about the frail statesman’s state of health, his home village of Qunu was a hive of activity with work being undertaken.
An alternate route leading to his house is being built, pipes are being laid for water supply to the homestead and flowers being planted at a grave site.
While media camped out in Qunu, President of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) Phathekile Holomisa addressed a large media contingent at the Mthatha Airport minutes after disembarking yesterday.
“Like everybody else, if Madiba is no longer enjoying life and he is on life support, then the Lord must take a decision to put him to rest,” he said. “I feel Madiba’s fate should be decided by God and only He knows if Madiba still wants to live.”
Holomisa, who is also an ANC MP, said Mandela’s family was in pain and wishing for a miracle for Madiba to recover.
“But they are aware of the limits to that miracle,” he said.
Last night a senior member of the family said Mandela was being “assisted” by machines. But this could not be independently verified.
“He is in hospital because of respiratory problems, so the machines are helping his lungs,” he said.
In Qunu, police have now also been deployed to stop media from taking pictures of the gravesite being prepared. Chief Mandla Mandela was not there. It was said he was in a meeting with council members in Mvezo.
Sources within the family revealed the meeting in Mvezo was to discuss the exhumation of the remains of Mandela’s children, which were relocated from Qunu to Mvezo a few years ago.
Apparently Mandla had the remains moved without consulting the family. “The meeting was about that and attendance was restricted,” said a source.
When the Dispatch team visited Mvezo Great Place, Mandla’s right hand man, who acts as headman of Mvezo, Zuko Dani, was at the gate.
“No journalists are allowed in here and the gate is here is to prevent the prying eyes of journalists. Dani is there to make sure every vehicle that comes in is known,” said a source, who works at Mvezo Great Place. Mandla could not be reached to confirm the meeting.
Three independent sources who work for the Mandela family said the gravesite was being prepared for the family.
The sources said that last week three tombstones, engraved with the names of Mandela’s deceased children – Makaziwe, Makgatho and Thembekile – were removed from the site and taken to a funeral parlour.
“A Mthatha-based funeral parlour came to collect them last week,” said a source.
Yesterday workers planted flowers at the site. Not far from there an excavator was digging a trench to lay a water pipe leading to Mandela’s house.
A new access road to Mandela’s house was also being constructed by an independent company.
Earlier police had to remove photographers and journalists from taking pictures of the graves.
“You are not allowed to take pictures here, please show some respect,” said one officer, believed to be from the VIP unit. Journalists were camped outside Mandela’s house as news emerged that some family members would come to lay wreaths at the gravesite.
By yesterday afternoon it was not clear if the remains of Mandela’s children would be brought back from Mvezo.