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Critically ill former South African president Nelson
Mandela marked two months in hospital Thursday, as
his compatriots extended their national vigil.
The anti-apartheid hero was rushed to the Pretoria
Mediclinic Heart Hospital on June 8 with a recurring
lung infection. His condition is still said to be "critical
but stable".
But the last two months have seen a series of scares
for the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and for the country
where he is considered a living saint.
His former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela told Sky
News that the 95-year-old was "now breathing
normally".
Doctors had managed to contain his lung infection but
kept "draining fluid from the lungs", she said in an
interview broadcast on Thursday.
Madikizela-Mandela hit out at continuing speculation
over the revered statesman's imminent death.
"He is not here forever, but how cruel, how cruel is it
from the same people that we gave up our lives for to
be actually impatient," she said.
On Thursday a steady stream of pedestrians passed
the hospital gates, which have been plastered with
posters, hand-painted signs and notes wishing the
ageing icon well.
Nearby a line of white satellite vans, some parked
there for 62 days -- since Mandela fell ill -- were
stationed on the road. A white police truck guarded
the entrance, while police officers continued to search
cars entering and leaving the hospital.
"The country is a little bit quiet because he is still
alive," said Elizabeth Thembo, a 63-year-old cleaner
wearing a blue smock walking outside the hospital.
"God must help him."
On the eve of the sorrow-tinged anniversary church
leaders led prayers in front of the hospital, urging
South Africans to rally together.
"God is using Madiba, and his extended illness, to
present to us a great challenge to unite behind the
values that he represents," Pretoria bishop Joe Seoka
said, using Mandela's clan name.
Early in his stay family testimony and court
documents gave an indication of the seriousness of
his condition. He was described as being in a
"vegetative state" and depending on life support to
survive.
On June 23 the presidency said "the former
president's condition had become critical over the
past 24 hours," as President Jacob Zuma cancelled a
foreign trip.
But since then friends and family members reported
the peace icon's health was improving.
Mandela's 95th birthday on July 18 saw the family
gathered at his bedside for a celebration.
Across the country there was an outpouring of
charitable deeds, with many people offering 67
minutes of good deeds for the 67 years he was in
public service.
But despite recent upbeat assessments, there
appears little sign of a much-wished-for discharge
from hospital.
Last month US network CBS reported, citing unnamed
sources, that Mandela underwent a surgical procedure
to unblock a dialysis tube.
It also said that he had two scares, once when he
failed to respond to his medications and on another
occasion when his life support machine showed him in
distress.
"It's quite painful, actually. We don't want to face the
truth," said Rethabile Maake, a 21-year-old student
outside the hospital.
Some people said that since Mandela has been in
care, the country has changed.
"Since he has been in hospital, everything is going
down," said Tshepo Rampou, a 19-year-old student
with one gold tooth, wearing a green Che Guevara
shirt.
"People seem to have forgotten about the
maintenance of peace," he said, adding that crime
and corruption within the government is a problem.
There are fears that Mandela's message of peace will
be lost when he is gone.
"Obviously we feel bad, we still need him around,"
said Stan Kgomotso, an unemployed 23-year-old from
Venda, Limpopo.
Kgomotso is concerned by the message of some
political factions, including that of the new political
party, Economic Freedom Fighters, being against a
racially united South Africa.
"You know they don't like whites," he said, "but whites
bring money into our country. If Mandela goes I think
it's going to be a mess up."
South Africa's government has been secretive about
the health of the elder statesman, issuing infrequent
and barebones statements and declining to comment
on the specifics of his condition.
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