Nelson Mandela Near Death
Thursday, June 27, 2013
One of the most polarized figures of all time and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, a South African man by the name of Nelson Mandela is now on life support in a city called Pretoria. This anti-apartheid icon served a 27 year jail term on Robben Island, fighting against apartheid, which is South Africas version of racial segregation. He has been battling respiratory infections ever since. He spent the last 14 months of his jail term at the Groot Drakenstein Prison. After his jail term, Mandela became the first black president in 1994 beating then-South African president F.W. de Klerk, after leaving jail for approximately 4 years. He became a national hero. He alone became the founding father of South Afrca's multiracial democracy.
In the hospital since June 8 for a lung infection that has debilitated him considerably, Mandela at the age of 94 may only have another few days left. The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma was scheduled to go to Mozambique at a summit on infrastructure investment, but cancelled his trip due to the condition of Mandela. He turns 95 years old on July 18.
President Obama is making every effort to visit with Mandela and expects to be by his bedside in less than 48 hours, but Mandela may not live long enough for President Obama to see him. Mandela will be sadly missed by the African people and from supporters around the world.