Mandela celebrates his 93rd birthday in the place where he spent his childhood

Former South African President Nelson Mandela spent his 93rd birthday with his family near his rural boyhood home in Qunu on Monday (July 18).He last visited his birthplace in May, the first time since he spent several days in the hospital in January. Since then he has received medical care at his home in Johannesburg's Houghton suburb.

Mandela's wife Graca Machel helped volunteers to plant trees in the area where Mandela was born.

Mandela's grandson Mandla explained that trees were being planted, not only in Nelson Mandela's childhood village of Qunu but also in Mvezo, where his grandfather was born.

"We are also planting trees in and around the great place, where my grandfather grew up, having been born in Mvezo and growing up in the area as well as Qunu and Mqekezweni, he always tells a story that in his father's kraal, he used to have a forest on the left and a forest on the right," Mandla Mandela said.

South African President Jacob Zuma visited Mandela in Qunu.

He said a small bridge would be created to Mandela's specifications in Mvezo, where the forner president was born.

"He's in absolute good spirit, absolute, very smiling, beaming like you have never seen before," he said of Mandela.

Mandela, who won a Nobel Peace Prize for helping end white-minority rule, served as president from 1994-1999, leaving behind an economically robust state that became a global beacon of hope for those seeking to end unjust rule.

But in recent months, questions have been raised about whether the African National Congress has veered from his legacy by a top figure in the party, a prominent ANC ally and masses of poor who have seen little improvement in their economic plight.