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| Mandela Said to Be ‘Steadily Improving’ on 95th Birthday | Mandela Said to Be ‘Steadily Improving’ on 95th Birthday |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| JOHANNESBURG — After weeks battling critical illness, Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president and an emblem of its struggle against apartheid, spent his 95th birthday in the hospital on Thursday, and the authorities said his condition was “steadily improving.” | |
| The assessment contrasted with weeks of concern among South Africans and around the world that Mr. Mandela might not recover from a lung infection that forced him into the hospital for the fourth time in a year on June 8. Previously the authorities had described his condition as “critical but stable.” | |
| Mr. Mandela’s birthday was also marked by Mandela Day, when schools across the land paid tribute to the former president at morning assemblies and many organizations asked supporters to volunteer 67 minutes of their time to mark his 67 years of public service. | Mr. Mandela’s birthday was also marked by Mandela Day, when schools across the land paid tribute to the former president at morning assemblies and many organizations asked supporters to volunteer 67 minutes of their time to mark his 67 years of public service. |
| In a statement, President Jacob Zuma wished Mr. Mandela a happy birthday on Thursday and, using the former president’s clan name, said: “Madiba remains in hospital in Pretoria but his doctors have confirmed that his health is steadily improving.” | In a statement, President Jacob Zuma wished Mr. Mandela a happy birthday on Thursday and, using the former president’s clan name, said: “Madiba remains in hospital in Pretoria but his doctors have confirmed that his health is steadily improving.” |
| “On behalf of government and all the people of South Africa, we wish Madiba a joyous 95th birthday,” the statement said. “We are proud to call this international icon our own as South Africans and wish him good health. We thank all our people for supporting Madiba throughout the hospitalization with undying love and compassion. We also thank all for responding to the call to give Madiba the biggest birthday celebration ever this year.” | “On behalf of government and all the people of South Africa, we wish Madiba a joyous 95th birthday,” the statement said. “We are proud to call this international icon our own as South Africans and wish him good health. We thank all our people for supporting Madiba throughout the hospitalization with undying love and compassion. We also thank all for responding to the call to give Madiba the biggest birthday celebration ever this year.” |
| Mr. Mandela was hospitalized in June to be treated for what the government said was a recurring lung infection. | Mr. Mandela was hospitalized in June to be treated for what the government said was a recurring lung infection. |
| Little is known about the details of his medical condition. A court affidavit filed in June in a dispute within Mr. Mandela’s family over where he might be buried claimed he was in a permanent vegetative state, but both family and medical team members denied this. Family members and friends who have visited him more recently say that Mr. Mandela is sometimes awake, smiling, communicating with his eyes and even trying to talk. | Little is known about the details of his medical condition. A court affidavit filed in June in a dispute within Mr. Mandela’s family over where he might be buried claimed he was in a permanent vegetative state, but both family and medical team members denied this. Family members and friends who have visited him more recently say that Mr. Mandela is sometimes awake, smiling, communicating with his eyes and even trying to talk. |
| In an interview with Britain’s Sky News, a daughter, Zindzi Mandela-Motlhajwa, said on Wednesday that Mr. Mandela was watching television and using headphones to hear the sound. | In an interview with Britain’s Sky News, a daughter, Zindzi Mandela-Motlhajwa, said on Wednesday that Mr. Mandela was watching television and using headphones to hear the sound. |
| “You can see he is there in his eyes, the same energy and strength,” she said. The family planned to present Mr. Mandela with a collage of family photographs as a birthday gift, she said. | “You can see he is there in his eyes, the same energy and strength,” she said. The family planned to present Mr. Mandela with a collage of family photographs as a birthday gift, she said. |
| Ms. Mandela-Motlhajwa is a daughter of Mr. Mandela and his former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who called his 95th birthday “a gift to the nation.” | Ms. Mandela-Motlhajwa is a daughter of Mr. Mandela and his former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who called his 95th birthday “a gift to the nation.” |
| “There are some prophets of doom who say the country will come to a standstill” when the former president dies, Reuters quoted Ms. Madikizela-Mandela as saying in a radio interview. But, she said, “the country will continue as it has always done. If anything, the country will solidify, come together and carry on.” | “There are some prophets of doom who say the country will come to a standstill” when the former president dies, Reuters quoted Ms. Madikizela-Mandela as saying in a radio interview. But, she said, “the country will continue as it has always done. If anything, the country will solidify, come together and carry on.” |
| Since 2009, the United Nations has recognized July 18 as Nelson Mandela International Day, urging people around the world to devote the same 67 minutes as South Africans to good works. | Since 2009, the United Nations has recognized July 18 as Nelson Mandela International Day, urging people around the world to devote the same 67 minutes as South Africans to good works. |
Lydia Polgreen reported from Johannesburg, and Alan Cowell from London. | Lydia Polgreen reported from Johannesburg, and Alan Cowell from London. |