Nation must let Mandela go, says friend; BNP leader insults Mandela on twitter

A realisation that the inevitable may not be far away was growing among South Africans as they said prayers for their ailing former leader Nelson Mandela.

Mr Mandela, 94, was admitted to hospital in Pretoria in the early hours of Saturday after the recurrence of a long-standing lung infection.

The office of the current president, Jacob Zuma, said over the weekend that Mr Mandela was in a “serious but stable condition”.

There have been no further official reports on his health, but in prayers said across the country, the people of South Africa appear to be coming to terms with the idea that the man widely regarded as the father of the nation may not have long left.

Andrew Mlangeni, an old friend of Mr Mandela, told South Africa’s Sunday Times that he wished the former president would get better, but said he had been taken to hospital “too many times” and there was a possibility he would not recover.

“The family must release him so that God may have his own way,” said Mr Mlangeni, who was imprisoned alongside Mr Mandela and other anti-apartheid leaders in the 1960s.

“They must release him spiritually and put their faith in the hands of God.

“Once the family releases him, the people of South Africa will follow. We will say thank you, God, you have given us this man, and we will release him too.”

Yesterday Mr Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe and granddaughter Ndileka Mandela were seen visiting the hospital where he is believed to be staying.

His wife Graca Machel cancelled an appearance at a high-profile hunger summit in London on Saturday to be with her husband.

The anti-apartheid leader has now been taken to hospital four times since December, with the last discharge coming on April 6 after doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia and drained fluid from his lung area.

But there was anger yesterday when British National Party leader Nick Griffin described Mr Mandela as a “murdering old terrorist” who had overseen the demise of his country, and seemed to mock his lung infection.

In a series of tweets he wrote:

Saint #nelsonmandela on last legs it seems. Make sure to avoid BBC when the murdering old terrorist croaks. It'll be nauseating.

— Nick Griffin (@NickGriffinBU) June 8, 2013

'Statesmen' must be judged on results not rhetoric. Before Mandela, South Africa was safe economic powerhouse. Now crime ridden basket case.

— Nick Griffin (@NickGriffinBU) June 8, 2013

No surprise #Mandela's lungs are shot - all those burning tyres. Smoking necklaces very bad for the health.

— Nick Griffin (@NickGriffinBU) June 9, 2013

His tweets have sparked outrage.

I am appalled by Nick Griffin's character assassination of #Mandela. To my SA friends: know that almost all Brits are appalled by him too.

— Ryan Coetzee (@RyanCoetzee) June 9, 2013