Nelson Mandela Celebrates 93rd Birthday In SAfrica

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Millions of South African schoolchildren began their day this past week by singing a special version of Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela who recently celebrated his 93rd birthday in South Africa.
Millions of South African schoolchildren began their day this past week by singing a special version of Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela who recently celebrated his 93rd birthday in South Africa.

by Nastasya Tay

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Former President Nelson Mandela spent his 93rd birthday with friends and relatives in his rural hometown Monday, as South Africans paid tribute to the anti-apartheid icon through song and community service projects.

Millions of South African schoolchildren began their day this past week by singing a special version of Happy Birthday to Mandela, leading a worldwide chorus of birthday wishes.

U.S. President Barack Obama called Mandela a beacon for the global community, and for all who work for democracy, justice and reconciliation.

South Africa's current president, Jacob Zuma, also paid a visit to Mandela in his home village of Qunu, some 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) south of Johannesburg. Zuma spent more than two hours with the former president, before leaving with members of the Mandela family, including the icon's former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

I came to spend time with the Mandela family, to rejoice with them, but also to eat cake. There was a huge cake,'' Zuma said with a smile.

Mandela is absolutely in good spirits, he said.

Photos released of Mandela showed the 93-year-old smiling broadly while sitting in a yellow fabric arm chair surrounded by relatives.

People around the world were asked to mark his birthday by giving 67 minutes of their time to work in their local community - one minute for every year of Mandela's public service.

He became South Africa's first black president in 1994 after spending 27 years in prison for his fight against racist apartheid rule, and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

South African businesses donated food, clothing, books and other supplies to shelters across the country, and the national blood service has used the opportunity to appeal for people to donate blood. Several libraries housed in shipping containers were opened in rural areas, to allow children access to educational materials.

Students at the Johannesburg School for the Blind and Partially Sighted sang and danced Monday morning as they wished their Tata Mandela'' a happy birthday.

Mandela's public appearances have become increasingly rare, though he did appear at the closing ceremony of the World Cup one year ago.

Earlier this year, he was hospitalized for a few days with an acute respiratory infection.

His foundation also has recently released Nelson Mandela By Himself, a book featuring more than 2,000 Mandela quotations on topics ranging from freedom to forgiveness to HIV/AIDS.

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