Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa who’s been fighting complications from a lung infection for the past six months, is on his “deathbed,” family members said Wednesday.
Mr. Mandela’s daughter, Makaziwe Mandela, told the South African Broadcasting Corp. that “Tata is still with us, strong, courageous. Even for a lack of a better word … on his ’deathbed’ he is teaching us lessons — lessons in patience, in love, lessons of tolerance.”
She also said, The Associated Press reported: “Every moment I get with him, I’m amazed. There are times where I have to pinch myself that I come from this man who is a fighter, even though you can see he is struggling. But fighting spirit is still there with him.”
Mr. Mandela, 95, was admitted to a Pretoria hospital in June for treatment of a lagging lung infection.
He was discharged in September, but has been in poor health since. He’s been receiving medical attention at his home for months.
“He is still with us although he is not doing well in bed,” his grandson, Ndaba Mandela, said in the AP report.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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