Family hopeful Mlangeni, 93, will pull through

Well-wishes continued to pour in yesterday for Rivonia Treason trialist Andrew Mlangeni, who is recovering after spending a second day in a Cape Town hospital where he is being treated for an infection.

The 93-year-old’s son, Sello Mlangeni, told The Citizen yesterday that his father was “still in a critical but stable condition” but that, the family was “hopeful he will pull through”.

Mlangeni, who has been inand-out of hospital in the past two weeks, was recently honoured with the Freedom of the City of London, in recognition of his role – fighting for freedom and racial equality in South Africa – and that of fellow struggle stalwarts and Rivonia Treason trialists Ahmed Kathrada and Denis Goldberg, and human rights lawyers George Bizos and Joel Joffe.

The former Lord Mayor of London Jeffrey Evans, 4th Baron Mountevans, said the honour was “a tribute to the noble and fearless fortitude” displayed by the anti-apartheid leaders.

In their messages to Mlangeni, the Ahmed Kathrada and Nelson Mandela foundations have wished the ANC struggle icon a speedy recovery.

Ahmed Kathrada Foundation spokesperson Zaakirah Vadi said: “With October 15, 2018 marking the 29th anniversary of the release from prison of comrade Mlangeni and other political prisoners, we wish him a speedy recovery and hope that he will gather strength to be with his family and the nation to celebrate this historic day.”