World
South Africa celebrates Mandela
Meanwhile, South Africa\'s Presidency on Thursday said Mandela\'s health is steadily improving.
"Madiba remains in hospital in Pretoria but his doctors have confirmed that his health is steadily improving," it said.
“On behalf of government and all the people of South Africa, we wish Madiba a joyous 95th birthday. 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 hospitalisation with undying love and compassion. We also thank all for responding to the call to give Madiba the biggest birthday celebration ever this year,” said Jacob Zuma.
Millions of school children in the country will celebrate the occasion by singing Happy Birthday to the former South African President.
"To mark the former statesman\'s 67 years as a lawyer, activist, prisoner and president, volunteers will spend 67 minutes renovating schools and orphanages, cleaning hospitals and distributing food to the poor. President Zuma plans to mark the occasion by overseeing the donation of houses to poor white families in the Pretoria area," BBC reported.
United States President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama extended their best wishes to the ailing Mandela on his birthday.
"On behalf of our family and the people of the United States, Michelle and I extend our warmest wishes and prayers to Nelson Mandela on the occasion of his 95th birthday, as well as to Graça Machel, the Mandela family, and the government and people of South Africa as they mark the fifth annual Nelson Mandela International Day. Our family was deeply moved by our visit to Madiba’s former cell on Robben Island during our recent trip to South Africa, and we will forever draw strength and inspiration from his extraordinary example of moral courage, kindness, and humility," Obama said in a statement.
"On Nelson Mandela International Day, people everywhere have the opportunity to honor Madiba through individual and collective acts of service. Through our own lives, by heeding his example, we can honor the man who showed his own people - and the world - the path to justice, equality, and freedom. May Nelson Mandela’s life of service to others and his unwavering commitment to equality, reconciliation, and human dignity continue to be a beacon for each future generation seeking a more just and prosperous world," the statement added.
Mandela was admitted to a hospital in Pretoria on June 8 with a recurrence of lung infection.
The 94-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner will turn 95 on July 18.
