Former South African President Nelson Mandela at the Mandela foundation, in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 2, 2009.
Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South Africa and international human rights icon whose voice inspired the movement to end apartheid, remains in stable condition but is “quite ill” and is now unable to speak.
Mandela, 95, uses facial expressions to communicate with doctors and his former wife, Winnie Madikiezela-Mandela, while recovering at home from an infection that sent him to the hospital on Sept. 1. The tubes used to clear fluid from his lungs and prevent infection make it impossible for him to speak, Madikizela-Mandela told a South African newspaper in an interview published Sunday.
“But the doctors have told us they hope he will be able to recover his voice,” she said.
[AP]