Johnesberg, February 12: At the age of 91, Nelson Mandela still ignites “Madiba Magic” merely by turning up and taking a few hesitant steps as he is helped to a fold-down chair.
White-haired and frail, the man who emerged from 27 years in captivity to declare himself “not a prophet but a humble servant” sat with his wife Graça Machel in the public gallery of the packed national assembly yesterday, in a rare public appearance on the anniversary of his release from Victor Verster prison. On his other side sat Winnie, his ex-wife, who had accompanied him as he walked to freedom from Victor Verster prison 20 years ago.
There was no appearance on the streets yesterday: the former president avoided the crowds by using a basement entrance to the national parliament building in Cape Town. But as he was helped to his seat in the public gallery, he smiled and waved in acknowledgement as parliamentarians and guests gave him a standing ovation and sang: “Nelson Mandela, there is none like you”. Politely leafing through a print-out of President Jacob Zuma’s hour- long state of the nation address, Mandela had the eyes of the assembly on him. And as Zuma spoke nervously and, characteristically, fumbled with his pages, nothing could sway parliament’s attention away from Mandela.
–Agencies