Q’town gran, 93, treks to ‘say goodbye to Tata’

AROUND the same time rumours of struggle icon Nelson Mandela’s death spread like wildfire, 93-year-old Josephine Siwela arrived at hospital to “say goodbye to Tata”.

Siwela had travelled from Queenstown in the Eastern Cape and joined hundreds outside the Mediclinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria, clutching Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom.

Siwela said: “I was in the struggle in the 1960s and Mandela was my commander. I arrived [Wednesday] night at my daughter’s place in Randburg and begged her to bring me here.”

President Jacob Zuma allayed fears by announcing that Mandela’s medical team assured that his “condition improved during the course of the night’’.

“He remains critical

but

is

now stable. cancelled my visit to Mozambique … so I could see him and confer with the doctors,” he said.

The president said Mandela was much better than when he saw him on Wednesday night.

The Presidency appealed for respect for Mandela’s privacy and dignity, saying rumours about Mandela’s health were disturbing.

Earlier there was a flurry of activity from the Mandela family who

Icollected flowers, cards and read messages of support on the wall.

Mandela’s granddaughter Ndileka – accompanied by her aunt Makaziwe and other grandchildren Swati, Ndaba and Zoleka – told the crowd that the family was grateful for the support and prayers.

Defence Minister Nosiviwe MapisaNqakula arrived before noon, shortly followed by her deputy Thabang Makwetla.