Mandela’s family is hopeful, but ‘it doesn’t look good’

JOHANNESBURG — Nelson Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe spoke movingly of her father’s continued responses to his family Thursday, saying he was “still there,” trying to open his eyes when they spoke to him.

As the world waited for additional news and messages of love poured in, her words offered a poignant insight into the raw pain of his family in its bedside vigil.

“I won’t lie, it doesn’t look good. But as I say, if we speak to him, he responds and tries to open his eyes. He’s still there,” she said, in an interview with state-owned SABC television.

“But I think for us, as his children and grandchildren, we still have this hope because you know when we talk to him, he will flutter (his eyelids) trying to open his eyes and will open his eyes. When you touch him, he still responds. And I think for us as his progeny, as long as Tata is still responding when we talk to him, when we touch him, I think that gives us hope.”

The twists and turns of Mandela’s illness have been followed with such intensity by global media that it sometimes seems the world is at his bedside, monitoring each turn for the better or worse.

But the glare has left his family uncomfortable and upset by reporting they have found intrusive, inappropriate and even racist, according to Makaziwe.

She said it was natural for people to be interested “but I just feel that it has gone overboard,” and pointed out that there was no international media frenzy when former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was hospitalized. She called for the public to respect Mandela’s privacy.

Thursday saw yet another change in Mandela’s condition. South African President Jacob Zuma’s spokesman, Mac Maharaj, said Mandela’s health had deteriorated further in the previous 48 hours, prompting Zuma to cancel a scheduled trip.

Mandela remained in critical condition “but is now stable” he said.