World

Nelson Mandela, 93, Admitted to Hospital With Stomach Ailment

Nelson Mandela, 93, Hospitalized With Stomach Ailment

Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, 93, has been hospitalized with a stomach ailment. (AP Photo/Elmond Jiyane, GCIS)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Former South African President Nelson Mandela was hospitalized Saturday with a stomach ailment, according to a government statement issued about the 93-year-old beloved anti-apartheid icon.

Mandela “has had a long-standing abdominal complaint and doctors feel it needs proper specialist medical attention,” President Jacob Zuma said, asking that Mandela’s privacy be respected.

The statement did not say at which hospital Mandela was being treated. In 2011, he was hospitalized for a few days with an acute respiratory infection.

Mac Maharaj, Zuma’s spokesman, said he could not immediately elaborate but that he would be issuing regular updates. The South African military, which had taken charge of Mandela’s health care after he was hospitalized last year, and a spokesman for Mandela’s office said the would have no statement Saturday.

Mandela became South Africa’s first black president in 1994 after spending 27 years in prison for his fight against racist apartheid rule, and he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

Well-wishers like Derek Kemper, a 47-year-old emergency services consultant, said they hoped Mandela would soon recover.

Kemper said he fought Mandela’s African National Congress, now the country’s governing party, as a soldier for the apartheid state. On Saturday, he was touring Soweto, the famed Johannesburg township set aside for blacks under apartheid and still largely black and poor, with a group of other whites. Kemper marveled at how far the country had come, and credited Mandela.

“He had the wisdom to try to reunite the country.” Kemper said, speaking in front of a Soweto home where Mandela once lived that has been turned into a museum celebrating Mandela’s life.

Kemper said he believed that even though Mandela has largely retired from public life, he has a moderating influence on younger black South Africans who may be impatient with the pace of change in their country. Kemper said he worried about whether the commitment to reconciliation would outlive Mandela.

But Kefiloe Molepo, a 19-year-old student who grew up just around the corner from Mandela’s home, said there was little cause for concern. Molepo, walking home from church, said he was raised on stories about Mandela, who he said was a friend of his great-grandfather.

“When he was set free, he didn’t think of vengeance,” Molepo said. “He wanted peace for the nation.”

Mandela’s public appearances have become increasingly rare, though he did appear at the closing ceremony of the World Cup in July 2010. Mandela also held a private meeting with Michelle Obama when the U.S. first lady traveled to South Africa with her daughters last year.

Mandela has taken up permanent residence at his home in Qunu, in the southwestern region of South Africa where he was raised. Earlier this year, Mandela came to his Johannesburg home for what Zuma’s office said would be a brief stay while maintenance was done at his Qunu home. Zuma’s office said then that Mandela was in good health.

Mandela’s last surviving sibling, a sister, died last month near Qunu. Makhulu Nothusile Bhulehluthi was 82. Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, their father, had several wives and 31 children.

Comments (44)

  • Vasbyt
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 9:34pm

    People in America have no idea who Nelson Mandela realy is. Watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAqXOfJQQTE. This man was, is and always will be a communist terrorist. The first people he huged when he got out of jail was Kadaffi, Arafat and Castro. Look it up, he was trained by the Russian’s. Read “ Soviet strategy for the conquest of Southern Africa”.

    Report Post » Vasbyt  
  • Vasbyt
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 9:33pm

    People in the west have no idea who Nelson Mandela realy is. Watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAqXOfJQQTE. This man was, is and always will be a communist terrorist. The first people he huged when he got out of jail was Kadaffi, Arafat and Castro. Look it up, he was trained by the Russian’s. Read “ Soviet strategy for the conquest of Southern Africa”.

    Report Post » Vasbyt  
  • stratomaster
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 7:12pm

    This shitbag commie showed the world that black africans were incapable of governing themselves. Hell they can’t even figure out how dig a decent well. Blacks have yet to rule over a civilized successful society.

    Report Post »  
  • RJO
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 5:33pm

    Is this the same gentleman who would “Tar and Feather” his political opposition while in power in South Africa – among other unpublicized atrocities steeped in “retribution?”

    Yup.

    Report Post » RJO  
  • waspanglosaxon
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 12:18am

    Well, Mandela can go to his grave feeling proud that he was pivotal in destroying one of the greatest nations on Earth and turning it into just another ‘black hole’ – and the AIDS capitol of the world, to boot! He who cannot create anything must only content himself with destroying what others have created.

    Report Post » waspanglosaxon  
    • Vasbyt
      Posted on February 26, 2012 at 2:12am

      People in America have no idea who Nelson Mandela realy is. Watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAqXOfJQQTE. This man was, is and always will be a communist terrorist. The first people he huged when he got out of jail was Kadaffi, Arafat and Castro. Look it up, he was trained by the Russian’s. Read “ Soviet strategy for the conquest of Southern Africa”.

      Report Post » Vasbyt  
    • Vasbyt
      Posted on February 26, 2012 at 2:12am

      People in the west have no idea who Mandela realy is. Watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAqXOfJQQTE. This man was, is and always will be a communist terrorist. The first people he huged when he got out of jail was Kadaffi, Arafat and Castro. Look it up, he was trained by the Russian’s. Read “ Soviet strategy for the conquest of Southern Africa”.

      Report Post » Vasbyt  
  • Rayblue
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 6:13pm

    What a sparkling story. Painted all shining and respectful. May as well have a violin solo in the background. Clouds drifting by and the sun reflecting on the bloody faces of his victims.

    Report Post » Rayblue  
  • AFeatherAdrift
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 6:00pm

    Boy you guys don’t pull any punches. Long live apartheid I guess you would say, but your’re not racist….no…Heck the world is wrong. You people are simply sick, sick sick.

    Report Post » AFeatherAdrift  
    • Vasbyt
      Posted on February 26, 2012 at 2:05am

      you obviously are ignorant to the meaning of apartheid. We were at war with Soviet Russia, East Germany, Cuba other African communists and yes Mandelas ANC party were with them in Angola. It was a matter of survival not just racism. if you don’t know the true history of South Africa then you should just shut up.

      Report Post » Vasbyt  
    • yitty
      Posted on February 26, 2012 at 9:34am

      Watch the posts by VASBYT and learn something. Thanks Vasbyt for the post.

      Report Post »  
  • techengineer11
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 11:10am

    Awesome Book written by Ilana Mercer a WND journalist and daughter of a Rabbi.

    Into the Cannibal’s Pot:
    Lessons for America from Post-Apartheid South Africa
    “If you want to witness the end result of what in America is called ‘diversity’, you must read ‘Into the Cannibal’s Pot’.”

    - Thomas J. Dilorenzo

    Read it and understand what we have to look forward to in America.. You see it in the streets already today..

    Report Post » techengineer11  
    • arx
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 11:32am

      Techengineer I think it was you who posted that book here a long time ago. I read it…great book. A lot of information you’ll never hear from any American media source.

      On another topic, I‘m about had it with the Blaze intrusive pop ups and advertising such that Blaze won’t even load on my Droid. I suppose Glenn’s profits are the paramount concern…not to mention pushing Romney at the expense of the other candidates. I went to see Glenn and Oreilly’s show in Tampa a few years ago…wish I hadn’t now. Glenn’s true colors are showing through during this election cycle and I no longer even listen to his radio show.

      Report Post » arx  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 11:47am

      Looks like a great oppurtunity for Obama to go there and run for president after this year.

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
    • techengineer11
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 12:20pm

      arx: I‘m sure it’s interesting… I can‘t even envision having time to read it this year but I’d like to..

      You right to about the pop ups.. What’s up with that Blaze?

      Anyway, as long as people are seeing the truth and realizing that our Media is the greatest obstacle to our Republic then I’m happy.

      Report Post » techengineer11  
    • Pigpen
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 3:28pm

      Thanks for the reference, TECH, I will look that one up.

      For those of you unaware of just what Africa and the ANC: African National Congress types (like Nelson and his wife Winnie-the-goodyear-tire-necklace Mandela) are REALLY like, then google a Zimbabwe farmer named Terry Ford and his little dog named Squeak…

      Report Post » Pigpen  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:56am

    Hmmm…Commie that is responsible for someone’s death….Sounds like everyone is talking about Ted Kennedy.

    Report Post »  
    • Vasbyt
      Posted on February 26, 2012 at 2:14am

      the west have no idea who Nelson Mandela realy is. Watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAqXOfJQQTE. This man was, is and always will be a communist terrorist. The first people he huged when he got out of jail was Kadaffi, Arafat and Castro. Look it up, he was trained by the Russian’s. Read “ Soviet strategy for the conquest of Southern Africa”.

      Report Post » Vasbyt  
  • thejackal
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:31am

    This guy should of been executed for mass murder decades ago. Criminal communist filth.

    Report Post » thejackal  
    • db321
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:34am

      It seems like all the Communist Rulers are dropping like flies – the era of the Dictator is over. We now are entering the era of the King for some – false profit for others.

      Report Post » db321  
    • Vasbyt
      Posted on February 26, 2012 at 2:11am

      People in the west have no idea who Nelson Mandela realy is. Watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAqXOfJQQTE. This man was, is and always will be a communist terrorist. The first people he huged when he got out of jail was Kadaffi, Arafat and Castro. Look it up, he was trained by the Russian’s. Read “ Soviet strategy for the conquest of Southern Africa”.

      Report Post » Vasbyt  
  • georgepatton
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:16am

    Beck is loosing it……….. giving tribute to Mandela;He’s a Commie Glenn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Is this what happens when you aquire so much wealth?
    Wake up Beck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
    • dissentnow
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:30am

      He is a commie but more importantly he is a terrorist!
      Despite his claims of doing his own research and going to the original sources, Glenn is wrong about Mandela like he is wrong about Gandhi and much of history. Glenn takes the stance that Mandela is a great man of peace, which is a very liberal and very uneducated stance to take.

      Report Post »  
    • techengineer11
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 11:06am

      Glenn Beck is simply a Jewish shill just like Mandela is… I read somewhere a few weeks back that up to 300,000 whites had been slaughtered in South Africa since 1993.. Now that number sounds a little high and I sure hope that it is not true but the fact is there is a “white slaughter” taking place today in South Africa and our Media has turned a blind eye to it…

      Just as they did when the Bolsheviks were slaughtering 10s of millions of Christians in Russia.. They didn’t know.. lol Yet when Hitler introduced the Nuremberg laws in Germany the Media went ape worldwide!

      Wonder why?

      We didn’t hear a peep when up to 10 million Ukrainians were starved to death in 1931-1932 but after Nuremberg in 1933 the whole world had to rise up in opposition to the beast Adolf Hitler.. Yet, he hadn’t murdered anyone?

      Surely even the extremely dense and ignorant average Blaze reader can comprehend right?

      Obviously there’s a few on this thread that are aware but the vast majority of Blaze readers are simply sheep. I marvel daily.

      Report Post » techengineer11  
  • georgepatton
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:10am

    He’s a commie ,WHO THE HELL CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
    • Macman1138
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 6:09pm

      The Liberal Media cares very much.
      When this guy dies, you’d think the long lost brother of Christ had bought the farm.
      Wait and see.

      Report Post » Macman1138  
  • Daveed
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:34am

    WWFFD–What would the Founding Father’s Do? Well, I think they went to war to stop tyranny.
    Is there anything worth defending today? When does the pretentious insincere White House untruthful lecturing rhetoric stop immobilizing her citizens? After the damage has been done? How further towards Hell does a nation need to get before there is no return? Our we leaning towards our own understanding after 100 years of propaganda Americanized to herd the cattle? WWFFD and WWJD HE IS THE LION OF JUDA-I watch the Christian News and it is not a bleak picture in other countries, the people are cheering on the American people and their Fight for Freedom and save thier land from the most dastardly foes, the foes from with in, her own countrymen. Who are playing a very dangerous game domestically and internationally and harming people both here and abroad and all the trillions of dollars they give to Freedom’s enemies for the poor people that never ends poverty or is given to the poor from despotism, annilation, genocidal dictators of the worse kind. A person can not help but ask these guestions hoping for an answer. In the meantime pray, pray, pray.

    Report Post »  
  • Daveed
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:10am

    Mr. Mandela was a bad man. I could not sing his praises any more than I can praise, Mao, Che, Castro. I pray for his salvation and that he will truely repent and become a changed Man in his old age before it is too late.

    Report Post »  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:05am

      Please dont tell that to Glenn Beck. Just the other day he sang nelson Mandellas priases on the radio…Glenn must have had a brain fart or something.

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
  • Macman1138
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:37am

    The truth is that Nelson Mandela was a communist-backed-terrorist, and his ex-wife Winnie was as-evil-as any murderous-tyrant committing atrocities for her husband while he was behind bars. The world will be better off when they both are 6ft under.
    The sad truth is that the libs around the planet will worship the cultivated image and lies about them both, like Malcolm X, Eldridge Clever, et. al. Their pictures will be in public schools, glowing books will be written about them and children will be taught these lies and half truths, the real history will be swept under the rug to be forgotten.

    Report Post » Macman1138  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:27am

      The truth is that the rule of the white 20% of SA’s population over the non-white 80% was unsustainable and at some point had to end. By the late 1980s even most of the white leadership understood that. Much violence, most of it black-on-black, accompanied the transition to black-majority rule in the 1990s. The ANC has become corrupt and has presided over increasing black (and some white) poverty and rampant crime. But overall the rule of law has prevailed and a vigorous political opposition campaigns openly and peacefully, South Africa has not yet become Zimbabwe, in large part because Mandela did not prove to be Mugabe.

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
  • Baddoggy
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:59am

    Lest we forget…

    Amnesty International refused to take on Nelson Mandela’s case because they asserted that he was no political prisoner but had committed numerous violent crimes and had had a fair trial and a reasonable sentence.

    Nelson Mandela was the head of UmKhonto we Sizwe, a terrorist wing of the ANC and South African Communist Party. He had pleaded guilty to 156 acts of public violence including mobilizing terrorist bombing campaigns, which planted bombs in public places, including the Johannesburg railway station. Many innocent people, including women and children, were killed by Nelson Mandela’s
    terrorists.

    South African President P.W. Botha had, on a number of occasions, offered Nelson Mandela freedom from prison, if he would only renounce terrorism. This Mandela refused to do.

    Sad he has a tummy ache…

    Report Post » Baddoggy  
  • Macman1138
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:27am

    Good.
    The school district I work in has his picture up everywhere, along with Malcolm X, act. I’ve heard liberal white teachers praise him for fighting for freedom for blacks in South Africa, leaving out all the bombings, the necklacing and other violence against whites. The teachers neglect to say what a hell hole South Africa has become, just like the rest of the continent.

    Report Post » Macman1138  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:39am

      Sshh, we’re not supposed to know about that.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:51am

      No you have it wrong..All he did was shop for shoes for his wife…I spit coffee on my windshield when I heard Glenn say the other day that Mandells was a peaceful man and even praised him. Does anyone remember what his regime was like or has it all been erased? Sickening.

      I say send hin to Cuba to get some Michael Moore healthcare…

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • dissentnow
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:51am

      @Baddoggy
      I like some of what Beck says but he loses me when he starts talking about the black founding fathers or the women founding fathers or how great Gandhi was. All you have to do is read a little about Gandhi to find out that he hated blacks, didn’t really care for the Jews and wrote letters to Hitler addressing him as “friend”. Beck reminds me of O’reilly when he starts pandering like that. Beck is, again, wrong when it comes to Mandela. We all know how Beck feels about Bill Ayers. If Bill Ayers is a terrorist what does that make Mandela?

      Report Post »  
    • techengineer11
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:34am

      dissentnow: All so very true.

      Report Post » techengineer11  

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