Post date: Jul 12, 2013 2:11:7 PM
Nelson Mandela's wife Graca Machel says she is less anxious now that Madiba is responding positively to treatment, as well-wishers continue to gather outside his Pretoria hospital.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (JULY 12, 2013) (REUTERS) - Well-wishers gathered near the Mediclinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa on Friday (July 12) as the country's former President Nelson Mandela spent a 35th day receiving treatment for a serious lung infection.
President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday evening (July 11) that Mandela was continuing to respond well to treatment."He is like a father to us, all of us. So I hope he gets well soon. We pray each and every day so that he may get better," said student Khusto Maseko.
"I would just like to say to him 'thank you, thank you for being a father, thank you for being a grandfather, for being everything you have been to us'. We are all together as a nation today because of his willingness. You know he took an effort, he did everything, he sacrificed," added another student, Sibongilo Nkosi.
Mandela's wife left her husband's side on Friday (July 12) to be finger printed in Johannesburg for a new smart identity card that will be launched on the former president's birthday next week.
Graca Machel has been keeping a low profile, spending most of her time near Mandela at theMediclinic Heart Hospital.
After officials collected her biometric details, including her photograph and electronic signature, Machel said she was relieved that Mandela was responding positively to treatment, adding that he may even be well enough to register for his own smart I.D. card.
"I would say that today I am less anxious than I was a week ago and definitely he will also have his own chance of participating in this process. We will make it easier as possible for him also to be standing and be counted as a full citizen of this nation," she said.
Cards and flowers have been left outside the hospital where Mandela is being treated and people come daily to wish the former president well.
"I know he (Nelson Mandela) was a great fighter for our country and for freedom and I respect him highly for that," said 12-year-old student, Justin Hendricks, outside the gates of the Mediclinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria.
"We are given the respect for Madiba and I hope he gets well soon and I am going to miss him," said another 12-year-old student, Luncinda Esterheiser.
Mandela was spending his 35th day in hospital after being admitted on June 8 for emergency treatment.