Nelson Mandela is “steadily improving,” the South African Government said, as the former President marked his 95th birthday on Thursday in a Pretoria hospital.
South Africans, including school children, gathered outside the hospital from the early morning to sing songs, leave cards and lay wreaths outside the hospital.
The crowds continued to arrive throughout the day. Similar events took place across the country.
President Jacob Zuma briefly visited the hospital before rushing to a meeting with EU officials.
Zuma said he was “encouraged by the progress (Mandela) is making,” though the anti-Apartheid icon remains in critical condition.
“On behalf of the government and all the people of South Africa, we wish Madiba a joyous 95th birthday,” Zuma said, using Mandela’s clan name.
“We are proud to call this international icon our own as South Africans and wish him good health.”
At the beginning of the summit, with European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, and EU President, Herman Van Rompuy, Zuma cut a massive cake with the European and South African flags to mark the birthday.
“President Mandela was the founder of modern South Africa, the father of South African democracy and it is fair to say that he did an excellent job as South Africa now has solid institutions and a mature democracy capable of withstanding the hardest probes,” said Barroso.
Charity events were conducted across South Africa to mark the liberation hero’s birthday.
People in the country and around the world are called to set aside 67 minutes for charity and community work, to remember the 67 years of service Mandela gave to South Africa, many of them behind bars.
In recognition of his legacy, the UN designated the Nobel Peace Laureate’s birthday as Nelson Mandela International Day.
A series of other events are also planned in Mandela’s honour.
They are, plans by actor Morgan Freedman to deliver books to children at a school in Mississippi in the U.S.; Business mogul Richard Branson mentoring young entrepreneurs for 67 minutes; and Actress Alfre Woodard working with children at a cultural arts academy in New Orleans.
Mandela was hospitalised on June 8 for a recurring lung infection. His condition initially deteriorated significantly, but has improved in the past three weeks, the government said.
U.S. President Barack Obama said: “On behalf of our family and the people of the U.S., Michelle and I extend our warmest wishes and prayers to Nelson Mandela.”
The statement released by the White House said: “Our family was deeply moved by our visit to Madiba’s former cell on Robben Island during our recent trip to South Africa.”
Mandela was a political prisoner for 27 years for leading role in fighting the Apartheid regime before becoming South Africa’s first black President in 1994, serving one term.
He largely retired from public life in 2004 and was last seen in public in 2010, for the football World Cup.
His daughter, Zindzi, said on Wednesday that he had made “dramatic progress.”
She told Sky News: “I should think he will be going home any time soon.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying was among those who greeted Mandela. “He is fighting against illness with indomitable will,” she said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said: “Your name is inseparable from a whole epoch of modern African history that heralded the building of a new democratic South Africa.”
Events are planned later on Thursday at UN headquarters in New York and the U.S. Congress.
Mandela is also marking the 15th anniversary of his marriage to Graca Machel, who has been by his bedside each day for the past six weeks.
