Yes, but it’s still occasionally newsworthy…
Reports are claiming that Mandela is in a persistent vegetative state and that it has been suggested to the family that they switch off his life support. That has, of course, been denied by the official spokespeople.
The last time people were concerned about Mandela dying it was the fear that he’d die in prison. To me it’s incredible that he’s made it to this age.
in a tv story not directly about his health, so no detail, the comment was made that doctors were recommending removal from life support.
Now BBC is reporting an issue with one of the Mandela clan having dug up and moved the bodies of I think it was three Mandela grandchildren to make room for him to be buried where he wants. But the clan member did it without consulting the clan, and a court has ordered him to put the bodies back. And he’s refusing to do so. What a controversy to arise.
Ah, no, I hear now it’s three of Mandela’s dead children that are involved, dug up by a Mandela grandson.
The situation with the graves is this: Nelson Mandela’s family holds the chieftanship of the village of Mvezo, but Nelson’s father was deposed by the colonial government and the family relocated to another village called Qunu, about 25 kilometres away. Nelson grew up in Qunu and in retirement returned to a house there. In recent years the chieftanship of Mvezo was restored to the family; by rights it would belong to Nelson himself, but being somewhat busy with being an international statesman and all that, he nominated his grandson and senior heir Mandla to be the chief.
Clearly the location where Nelson Mandela is buried will become a massive site of “pilgrimage” and a tourist destination. Mandela’s will expresses that he wants to be buried in Qunu with his children, three of whom have already passed away. These three children were accordingly buried in Qunu, but in recent years Mandla Mandela had them exhumed and reburied in Mvezo, presumably in the hopes that this would mean that Nelson would also ultimately be buried in Mvezo.
Last week other members of the Mandela family obtained a High Court order to have the remains returned to Qunu. There was some legal wrangling because Mandla wasn’t represented at the original proceedings, but a full hearing was held this week. Mandla refused to cooperate, so the sheriffs were sent in and they’ve returned the remains to Qunu.
ETA: incidentally, I find it amusing that a lot of the foreign media talks about “Mandela’s remote home village”; Qunu is situated on a national highway about 20 minutes’ drive from the regional capital of Mthatha.
Archbishop Tutu just went up a notch or three in my esteem (which I considered difficult if not impossible).
And reading some of the comments following the article made me hit my knees and thank Og that this is a closely moderated board. Make the Pit look like a game of pat-a-cake.
I’ve always admired Bishop Tutu, as much as Mandela. The man has cast iron balls for some of the things he did. I saw a news video of a crowd in South Africa, when it was still under apartheid that was coming apart. The mob was getting ready to kill a guy who they believed had collaborated with the government, by putting a “necklace” on him. This is a tire, doused in gas, hung around the dude’s neck, that was about to be set on fire. The bishop plowed right into the mob, shoving and elbowing people aside to get to the guy, and shamed the mob into stopping the murder. In spite of his standing the mob could just as easily have turned on him and given him the same treatment.
If Desmond Tutu tells you to settle down you’d better do it.
BBC TV is reporting that Mandela has been released from hospital and sent home. Tough old bird. Still ill, but they reckon he can receive a sufficient standard of care at home now.
I am wondering if that means he is going home with hospice care.
Since making that last post, BBC said his home has been converted into what is essentially an ICU, and the same staff that were treating him at the hospital will be treating him at home. So he’ll essentially be getting the same care by the same people.
Story here.
Some people want to die at home.
Maybe its an attempt at resolving the shrine issue. This village is where Mandela died, and that village is where he is buried?