Bill Clinton meets Nelson Mandela

Mr Clinton is in South Africa as part of an African tour that takes in
Mozambique, Rwanda, and Uganda, to inspect the health and social projects
his eponymous foundation has helped to fund.

Millions of South Africans will today undertake 67 minutes of good deeds today
to celebrate the 67 years Nelson Mandela dedicated to public life, an
initiative that now coincides with his birthday each year.

At 8am South African time (7am UK time), people around the world are
encouraged to join in a communal “Happy Birthday” singalong to
kick off Nelson Mandela
International Day
.

The aim is to persuade 20 million people to sing together in a bid to break a
world record.

Celebrities, politicians, sportsmen, businesses and ordinary citizens will
take part in group activities such as planting trees, painting schools,
running charity cake sales and visiting old people’s homes.

Andrew Mlangeni, an anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned with him on
Robben Island, said striving to emulate his values would be the best tribute.

“Living up to the ideals that he sacrificed so much for would be the
greatest gift South Africans today could give Mandela,” the 86-year-old
said.

“I wish him long life and good health. His presence is a blessing to all
us South Africans and the world.”

Mr Mandela himself is expected to spend his birthday enjoying a lunch at his
home in Qunu, which is close to his birthplace, surrounded by his large
family and close friends. The frail former president, who has been
hospitalised twice in the past two years, is rarely seen in public these
days and this week, was unable to attend his cousin’s funeral in the town
because of the cold South African winter.

Kweku Mandela, a filmmaker, said he was nonetheless “in good spirits”.

“He always is when he is home in Qunu,” he said. “We have
bought him a cake and most of the family is arriving this evening. We’re
going to have a big lunch and generally, do what most families do on
birthdays.”

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