Saturday, 20 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand

Mandela not on life-support at time of death - friend

8 Dec, 2013 08:59 PM3 minutes to read
A Palestinian child holds a lit candle as he prays in front of a poster of late South African leader Nelson Mandela, during a special service in his honour in the West Bank. Photo / AP

A Palestinian child holds a lit candle as he prays in front of a poster of late South African leader Nelson Mandela, during a special service in his honour in the West Bank. Photo / AP

AP

Nelson Mandela wasn't on life support and had many family members and doctors close by in his final hours, a family friend who was at his bedside said today.

Bantu Holomisa told The Associated Press that he had been called to Mandela's home on Thursday by the family so he could visit the anti-apartheid icon before he died.

"You judge the mood in the house. I know the family. It was not the same family I used to see. Even the call itself, 'please pop in, we think Madiba is in his last days'," Holomisa said. "I assume the family was warned by the doctors."

The end came soon. The former president died about two hours after the departure of Holomisa, who was a former deputy minister in Mandela's Cabinet.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Neither the Mandela family nor the South African government has released details on the final hours of Mandela or given a cause of death.

The account by Holomisa, who says he has known Mandela since he stepped out of prison in 1990, sheds some light on Mandela's condition as his life ebbed away and on the mood and scene inside the Mandela home at that time.

Holomisa said Mandela's wife Graca and his former wife Winnie, one of Mandela's daughters and several of his grand-children were in the house Thursday, where "somberness" prevailed.

Mandela, 95, had been in intensive care at his home in Johannesburg's Houghton neighborhood since he was discharged on Sept. 1 from a hospital where he had spent nearly three months for a recurring lung infection.

Mandela appeared to be sleeping calmly but Holomisa said that it was obvious that he was finally succumbing to illness.

"I've seen people who are on their last hours and I could sense that he is now giving up," said Holomisa, who is the leader of the United Democratic Movement in parliament.

Related articles

World

Mandela, a servant of the people

06 Dec 04:15 AM
World

Obituary: Nelson Mandela

06 Dec 12:46 AM
World

Tributes for inspired leader

06 Dec 09:50 AM
Politics

John Armstrong: Sheer humility from Africa's political rock star

06 Dec 09:29 PM

"You could see it is not Madiba anymore," Holomisa added, using Mandela's clan name.

Holomisa said he had previously seen Mandela earlier this year in the hospital.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"This time around he was not on life support," Holomisa said, adding that Mandela was lying on his bed. "I could see that his condition had deteriorated."

Mandela's former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, said last month that he was unable to speak because of tubes that kept his lungs clear of fluid, according to The Sunday Independent, a South African newspaper.

Holomisa said he spent almost an hour at Mandela's home until around 7 p.m., or about two hours before Mandela died Thursday night.

-AP

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New ZealandUpdated

'Unbelievable' wild weather - more homes evacuated overnight

20 Aug 05:40 AM
New Zealand|Crime

Toupees and necklaces: Murderer's legal action costs taxpayers nearly $1 million

20 Aug 05:00 AM
New Zealand

Court review sought on harbour bridge cycle lanes

20 Aug 03:41 AM
New Zealand

Fit and healthy Kiwis dying unexpectedly from mysterious adult condition

20 Aug 03:00 AM
New Zealand

Herald afternoon quiz: August 20

20 Aug 03:00 AM

Most Popular

Toupees and necklaces: Murderer's legal action costs taxpayers nearly $1 million
New Zealand|Crime

Toupees and necklaces: Murderer's legal action costs taxpayers nearly $1 million

20 Aug 05:00 AM
Fit and healthy Kiwis dying unexpectedly from mysterious adult condition
New Zealand

Fit and healthy Kiwis dying unexpectedly from mysterious adult condition

20 Aug 03:00 AM
Parliament protest: Aussie far-right conspiracy commentators to attend, claims influencer
New Zealand|Politics

Parliament protest: Aussie far-right conspiracy commentators to attend, claims influencer

20 Aug 01:30 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP