With hymns and eulogies, South Africans of all colours and creeds remembered Nelson Mandela in a day of prayers yesterday, holding him up as a symbol of freedom, forgiveness, and hope for the nation and the world.

Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife says South Africa’s former president remains “quite ill” and unable to speak because of tubes that are keeping his lungs clear of fluid, though he is relaxed.

Nelson Mandela remains in a critical but stable condition, South African President Jacob Zuma said, more than two months after the anti-apartheid hero was hospitalised with a recurring lung infection.

Nelson Mandela has made “dramatic progress” and may be going home “any time soon” his daughter said as the former South African president celebrates his 95th birthday today.

Nelson Mandela has made “dramatic” progress, his daughter said as the former president of South Africa celebrates his 95th birthday today.

The former wife of critically ill Nelson Mandela says he is showing “great improvement” compared to a few days ago.

FORMER South African president Nelson Mandela went home from hospital yesterday after suffering an acute respiratory infection.

A SOMBRE and frail Nelson Mandela attended the funeral for his 13-year-old great-granddaughter yesterday, after she was killed in a car crash following the World Cup’s opening concert.

A sombre and frail Nelson Mandela attended the funeral for his 13-year-old great-granddaughter today, after she was killed in a car crash following the World Cup's opening concert.

Mourners gathered today for the funeral of Nelson Mandela’s 13-year-old great-granddaughter who was killed in a car crash.

NELSON MANDELA’s ex-wife denied yesterday that she had sharply criticised the anti-apartheid icon in a British newspaper interview, saying the comments attributed to her had been fabricated.

SOUTH AFRICANS yesterday celebrated the steps that sounded apartheid’s death knell 20 years ago: Nelson Mandela walking to freedom after 27 years in prison.

South Africans today celebrated the steps that sounded apartheid’s death knell 20 years ago: Nelson Mandela walking to freedom after 27 years in prison.

TWENTY years after Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, South Africa is a vibrant democracy but the millions still living in poverty are now looking for leadership that can tackle its economic problems.

Nelson Mandela said the African National Congress was responsible for making him the person he is today and for unity in South Africa’s governing party.

The South African Supreme Court today dismissed an appeal by Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and broker Addy Moolman of their 2003 fraud convictions.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela lost her appeal against fraud convictions in a South African court today.

Nelson Mandela’s grandson followed the former president’s example today by telling thousands of mourners at his father’s funeral that his mother had also died of Aids a year earlier.

A grief-stricken former President Nelson Mandela attended a memorial service for his son Makgatho, whose death of Aids complications last week underscored the silence still shrouding a disease that kills more than 600 a day in South Africa.

A grief-stricken former President Nelson Mandela attended a memorial service today for his son Makgatho, whose death of Aids complications last week underscored the silence still shrouding a disease that kills more than 600 a day in South Africa.

NELSON MANDELA announced his eldest son had died of AIDS-related complications yesterday, saying that the only way to fight the disease's stigma was to speak openly about it.

Nelson Mandela announced his eldest son had died of Aids-related complications today, saying that the only way to fight the disease’s stigma was to speak openly about it.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela’s eldest son is in critical condition at a Johannesburg hospital, his foundation said today.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of Nelson Mandela, won an appeal today against a four-year jail term for alleged theft and fraud.

MILLIONS of enthusiastic South Africans queued to vote in their third post-apartheid election yesterday, with the African National Congress expected to return to power in a landslide.

ASIAN women who have endured beatings, rape and other abuse with little hope of justice shared their stories yesterday before a symbolic court that pledged to take into political action.

WINNIE MANDELA’S life and reputation was in tatters yesterday after she was jailed for five years for fraud and theft.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the ex-wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, was today jailed for five years with one year suspended for fraud and theft.

WINNIE Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of Nelson Mandela, faces up to 15 years in jail after being found guilty of fraud and theft.

After a conviction for theft and fraud involving about €108,000, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was met outside the Pretoria court by a group of about 30 students, chanting “Viva Winnie viva,” with raised fists.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the ex-wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, was today convicted of theft and fraud involving about €108,000.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the ex-wife of former President Nelson Mandela, was convicted today of theft and fraud.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela obtained a court injunction tonight to avoid being publicly reprimanded by the Speaker of Parliament.

WINNIE MADIKIZELA-MANDELA, former wife of Nelson Mandela, expressed her anger yesterday at being charged with fraud and theft.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, former wife of Nelson Mandela, expressed her anger today at being charged with fraud and theft.

THE financial adviser of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, former wife of Nelson Mandela, who is being tried along with her for fraudulently obtaining bank loans, yesterday said a senior bank official had authorised the transactions.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the embattled ex-wife of Nelson Mandela, staged yet another political comeback today when she was re-elected to the top flight of South Africa’s ruling party.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the ex-wife of former President Nelson Mandela, plans to sue the South African parliament to overturn its ruling that she violated MPs finance regulations.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the ex-wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela, was due in court today to face dozens of fraud charges.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the controversial ex-wife of the former South African President, was today found guilty of violating finance rules as an MP.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has pleaded not guilty to 85 counts of fraud and theft charges amounting to nearly £65,000 (€101.30).

The case against Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in a Pretoria court has been postponed until tomorrow to allow Madikizela-Mandela’s lawyers to get information from the prosecution.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, appeared in a Pretoria court today to face fraud and theft charges.

Former first lady Marike de Klerk was buried in a private ceremony today, five days after she was strangled to death in her Cape Town apartment.