Celebrities hail Nelson Mandela on eve of his birthday
"I visited him on Tuesday and he was watching TV with headphones," said Zindzi Mandela in an interview with Britain's Sky TV. "He gave us a huge smile and raised his hand ... He responds with his eyes and his hands." Mandela is gaining "energy and strength," said his daughter. "I should think he will be going home anytime soon."
The latest description by Zindzi - who is one of Mandela's daughters by his second wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela - is a significant improvement from court documents filed by the family earlier this month which said he was on life support and near death.
Mandela has been in a Pretoria hospital since June 8 and officials say his condition is critical but stable.
The news of the improvement in Mandela's health will boost his supporters in South Africa and around the world who are preparing to celebrate his 95th birthday on Thursday, a day declared by the United Nations as a way to recognize the Nobel Prize winner's contribution to reconciliation.
Interest in Nelson Mandela International Day has ignited as a result of the former South African president's hospitalization in Pretoria and people find ways to honour his ideals.
A Johannesburg-based foundation named after Mandela and numerous other groups have asked people to volunteer 67 minutes to charity to match what they say are the 67 years that Mandela served his community.
President Jacob Zuma will mark the birthday by overseeing the donation of houses to poor white families in the Pretoria area, in line with his cabinet's theme to commemorate Mandela's birthday this year by focusing on food security, shelter and literacy. In Cape Town, labour activists are holding an event at St George's Cathedral on Thursday, in remembrance of Mandela's years of service and to encourage people to donate food to charity while leaving messages of support for the former leader's family.
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