A car belonging to foreign media observing the house of former president Nelson Mandela was towed away for having caused an obstruction in Houghton on Thursday night, Johannesburg metro police said.
Spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the Toyota Quantum was towed away for obstruction from 12th Avenue and 4th Street after complaints of a disturbance in the Houghton area.
“Another three minibuses, a double cab and a Toyota Cruiser were left on the pavement in the residential area,” he said.
“The cars are used by foreign journalists who were observing the residence of former president Nelson Mandela. It is important that journalists respect the privacy of other individuals.”
On September 25, President Jacob Zuma said Mandela was responding to treatment while convalescing at his Houghton home.
“Our revered former president continues to respond to treatment at his home,” Zuma said in a speech prepared for delivery at the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Mandela was admitted to the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria on June 8, with a recurring lung infection and was discharged on September 1. – Sapa
All was quiet outside Nelson Mandela’s home in Johannesburg in the early hours of Monday morning, after the announcement that the former president’s condition was critical.
Shortly after 2am, a silver Jeep arrived at the house. The driver pulled up outside the black gates, flashed the vehicle’s headlights and, when there was no response, hooted twice. The gates opened.
Two broadcasting teams arrived at the house on Sunday night, but left a short while later.
The street was otherwise quiet, with only the occasional armed response patrol.
Stones bearing the messages “God Bless Madiba”, “Thanx father” and “I love you Madiba”, roses and cards shone under a streetlight in front of the house.
They have been left by well-wishers in the days since Mandela was hospitalised on June 8 for treatment of a recurring lung infection.
On Sunday night, the anti-apartheid icon and Nobel peace prize laureate’s house was dark with only an entrance light visible through the large windows facing the road.
“The condition of former president Nelson Mandela, who is still in hospital in Pretoria, has become critical,” the presidency said in a statement issued earlier on Sunday.
It made the announcement after a visit by President Jacob Zuma and African National Congress deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa.
“They were briefed by the medical team, who informed them that the former president’s condition had become critical over the past 24-hours,” said presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj.
Zuma and Ramaphosa also met Mandela’s wife Graca Machel to discuss Mandela’s condition.
“The doctors are doing everything possible to get his condition to improve, and are ensuring that Madiba is well looked after and is comfortable,” Zuma said in the statement.
After 10pm, more than 10 journalists and technical staff from various broadcasters milled outside the Medi-Clinic Heart hospital in Pretoria.
Some of the crews were off-loading and setting up broadcasting equipment, including lights and generators.
A Tshwane metro police car, with flashing blue lights was parked nearby.
It was quiet outside the Nelson Mandela Foundation a few streets from the former statesman’s house. Three cars were parked behind the closed gate. – Sapa
There was little activity outside former president Nelson Mandela’s house in Houghton in northern Johannesburg on Wednesday as the ailing icon entered his fifth day in hospital.
A small contingent of media has been stationed outside his home since the news of his admission to a Pretoria hospital on Saturday.
A police officer patrolled the street in front of the residence on Wednesday morning.
At around 9.45am a black Mercedes-Benz with dark tinted windows entered the black gates to the house. A while later two cars were seen leaving.
As people drove past the house they slowed down to take a look at all the cars and the media contingent.
A woman got out of her car to read the stones with well wishes left for the former statesman outside the house.
On Saturday, the presidency announced that Mandela had been admitted to hospital in the early hours of the morning and was in a “serious but stable” condition.
His condition has remained unchanged since then.
The presidency said on Tuesday that the doctors treating Mandela had given President Jacob Zuma a thorough briefing on Monday night.
“President Zuma has full confidence in the medical team, and is satisfied that they are doing their best to make Madiba better,” spokesman Mac Maharaj said in a statement.
Mandela was still in a “serious but stable” condition.
More than 10 outside broadcast vehicles were parked close to one of the entrances at the hospital on Wednesday where Mandela was believed to be admitted.
Security remained tight at the facility, with six police officers manning each entrance. All cars entering the facility were searched.
Family members have been seen arriving at the hospital over the past two days.
On Tuesday, Mandela’s ex-wife, African National Congress MP Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, left the hospital before 6pm.
She and her daughter Zindzi were driven off in a black Audi, escorted by a white Mercedes Benz. Both cars had flashing blue police lights.
Mandela’s two other daughters, Makaziwe and Zenani, who is South Africa’s ambassador to Argentina, were also seen at the hospital on Tuesday.
His wife Graca Machel has reportedly been at his bed-side since his admission.
This is the third time this year the Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been hospitalised.
At the end of March and in April, he spent nine days in hospital receiving treatment for recurring lung problems.
Earlier in March, he was admitted to a Pretoria hospital for a scheduled check-up and was discharged the following day. – Sapa
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