Post date: Jun 29, 2013 12:37:58 PM
Cape Town tightens security ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 29, 2013) (REUTERS) - Security tightened in Cape Town on Saturday (June 29) as the city readied to receive U.S. President Barack Obama.
The U.S. president and First Lady Michelle Obama will also meet on Saturday with relatives of anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela, but they will not visit the hospital where the former South African president is critically ill, the White House said.Obama is in South Africa on the second stop of a three-nation Africa tour. His visit had triggered intense speculation that the United States' first African-American president might visit 94-year-old Mandela in the Pretoria hospital where he has spent three weeks being treated for a lung infection.
"Out of deference to Nelson Mandela's peace and comfort and the family's wishes, they will not be visiting the hospital," the White House said in a statement.
South Africans in Cape Town said the president's visit was a good thing for South Africa.
"If he's going to come and make things better and make very good relations between South Africa and America then that's ok, his visit. He's welcome to come toSouth Africa. We're expecting a lot of him," said Cape Town resident, Odwa Funeka.
Another resident, Ferial Essa said he hoped Obama would mix more with the common people of South Africa.
"It's very restricted so Africans here don't exactly know what is going on. And what I've heard, because I was at UCT (University of Cape Town), he's giving a speech at UCT. It's also on lock down. So people, he should actually be out in the city, more than being so scared of everyone," said Essa.
"I think it's a good thing, I think American interest coming to South Africa. And Africain general. I think interest is more in north of Africa. I don't think anything bad could come from a bigger partnership with the US, a bigger friendship with them," added another resident, Carla Barnardo.
During his weekend trip to Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town, his second stop of a three-nation Africa tour, Obama is scheduled on Sunday (June 30) to visit Robben Island, where Mandela passed 18 of the 27 years he spent in apartheid prisons.
The faltering health of the first black president of South Africa, a revered symbol of racial reconciliation, has drawn world attention since the 94-year-old was rushed to hospital with a recurring lung infection nearly three weeks ago.
Obama told reporters his message in South Africa would draw from the lessons of Mandela's life.