Nelson Mandela’s daughter, Makaziwe Mandela, after seeing her father on the afternoon of 26 June said today; “Yes Tata’s situation is critical”.
In an interview on SABC and commenting on the media ‘frenzy’ Makaziwe said; “It’s very crass, the fact that my Dad is a global icon, one of the 25 influential people of the 21st century does not mean that people cannot respect the privacy and dignity of my Dad and there’s sort of a racist element with many of the foreign media where they just cross boundaries ….. you have no idea of what is happening at the hospital …. in the middle of Park Street, they are standing right in the middle of the aisle, you can’t even enter the hospital or you can’t even go out of the hospital because they are making themselves such a nuisance. It’s like truly vultures waiting when a lion has devoured a buffalo waiting there to, you know, for the last carcasses. That is the image that we have as the family. We don’t mind the interest but I just think that it has gone overboard. They violate all boundaries.”
Editor: With all due respect Madam I think that you disrespect your Father and journalists by accusing them of racism. Or is doing your job as a journalist also racist – no matter what your colour, culture or nationality?
See the full interview below:
President Jacob Zuma visited former President Nelson Mandela in hospital in Pretoria on 27 June 2013 and was informed by the medical team that Madiba’s condition had improved during the course of the night. He remains critical but is now stable.
“I cancelled my visit to Mozambique today so that I could see him and confer with the doctors. He is much better today than he was when I saw him last night. The medical team continues to do a sterling job. We must pray for Tata’s health and wish him well. We must also continue with our work and daily activities while Madiba remains hospitalised,” President Zuma said.
The Presidency, disturbed by the rumours that are being spread about former President Mandela’s health have appealed for respect for the privacy and dignity of the former President.
