Mandela celebrates 88th birthday

South Africans marked former president Nelson Mandela’s 88th birthday today with tributes and praise, but the man who led his country out of apartheid celebrated privately with his children and grandchildren at his Johannesburg home.

Mandela, the first black president of South Africa, announced in 2004 that he was finally retiring and has made few public appearances since then.

Staff members at his foundation sang 'Happy Birthday' to Mandela yesterday and presented him with a cake.

Leaning on a cane and supported by his wife, Graca Machel, Mandela then toured an exhibition of photographs about his life and legacy.

President Thabo Mbeki sent birthday greetings, expressing the wish that Mandela live long enough “to see the full bloom of our nation as it continues to regenerate itself into a peaceful, prosperous and united people”.