South Africa is having another uneasy day as the country continues to monitor the health of Nelson Mandela. It has been reported that he is on life support, but the government claims that he is doing ‘much better.’
On Wednesday, it was reported by multiple sites around the world that the Nobel laureate had been put on life support, which his family would not confirm. The family is clearly not happy with the international media’s coverage and is trying to keep some details private.
“I won't lie, it doesn't look good. But as I say, if we speak to him, he responds and tries to open his eyes. He's still there. He might be waning off, but he's still there,” Mandela’s eldest daughter, Makaziwe, told South Africa’s SABC Thursday. She had just come from the hospital before making the statement and noted that the international media has had “bad taste” in its coverage.
“There's sort of a racist element with many of the foreign media, where they just cross boundaries,” she said. “It's truly like vultures waiting when the lion has devoured the buffalo, waiting there for the last of the carcass. That's the image we have as a family.”
The only official word on Mandela’s health has come from the office of President Jacob Zuma, the current president. According to CBS News, Zuma’s office released a statement on Thursday that sounded positive. Zuma cancelled a trip to Mozambique to be with Mandela.
“He is much better today than he was when I saw him last night,” Zuma said. “The medical team continues to do a sterling job.”
Mandela is 94-years-old and has been in the hospital for 20 days for treatment of a lung infection.
image: Wikimedia Commons
