Nelson Mandela's former wife Winnie says it has been "extremely painful" to see Nelson Mandela go through his illness, and that it was "nonsense" for the media to suggest that her family had a discussion about whether or not to remove life support. Read more...
Nelson Mandela's former wife Winnie and his daughter Zindzi have spoken out about the precarious condition of South Africa's first black president and how their family is coping.
The anti-apartheid hero is critically ill in hospital, suffering from a recurrent lung infection and the intense media interest has been difficult for his relatives.
Winnie Mandela was particularly critical of a visit in April by South African President Jacob Zuma and other ruling party figures to Mr Mandela's home, when he was shown on television looking frail and dazed, sitting in an armchair.
"I honestly cannot put in words how hurt the family was. It was one of the most insensitive things for anyone to have done," Winnie told ITV News.
"Nobody knows him better than I do and it is extremely painful to see him going through what he's going through now," she added. "But it is God's wish."
Winnie Mandela has been seen visiting her former husband in hospital in Pretoria daily, comforting relatives and managing the media interest in the anti-apartheid hero's deteriorating health.
After Mandela's daughter recently launched an angry tirade against foreign media camped outside the hospital, comparing them to "vultures waiting when a lion has devoured a buffalo", her mother attempted to smooth ruffled feathers.
"There may be problems here and there and some of you got carried away with the reports and talk about our father in the past tense - we are just here to thank you very much for your support," she said.
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30 июн 2013
