Zindzi Mandela – praag.org

Mandela daughters at movie premiere: ‘The show must go on’

The actor Idris Elba on a poster advertising the movie

People attending the London premiere of a new film about Nelson Mandela were told of his death as the closing credits rolled, reported Associated Press.

Stopping the screening of “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” was discussed, but Mandela’s daughters asked that the premiere continue, a film spokesman said Thursday night.

Producer Anant Singh announced Mandela’s death once the film was over, and he called for a moment of silence.

The audience included the film’s stars and Prince William and his wife, Kate.

“It was extremely sad and tragic news,” William said upon leaving the film.

Zindzi Mandela, Mandela’s daughter, also was there. When asked on the red carpet on her way into the premiere about her father, she had said, “My father is fine.”

Nelson Mandela was 95.

Harvey Weinstein and his wife Georgina Chapman (25 years his junior)

The North American rights for the film were acquired by the Weinstein brothers’ The Weinstein Company (TWC). Apart from Long walk to freedom, the Weinstein brotherrs and prroducer Anant Singh have also colaborated on Sarafina, Cry the beloved country and other films.

“I am extremely passionate about Mandela: Long walk to freedom,” said TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein. “Anant Singh first gave the book to me in 1994, when the first edition came out. We have been talking about making this film since 1999. There have been a number of stop and goes, but sometimes things work out for a reason, and Anant Singh has done a masterful job in producing this epic story of our times. Through Anant and Bob De Niro, I met Nelson Mandela, and it was one of the best experiences of my life.”

Mandela makes ‘dramatic’ progress

Nelson Mandela has made “dramatic progress,” and may be going home “anytime soon,” said his daughter Zindzi on the eve of his 95th birthday.

“I visited him yesterday and he was watching television with headphones,” said Zindzi Mandela in an interview with Britain’s Sky TV. “He gave us a huge smile and raised his hand … He responds with his eyes and his hands.”

Mandela is gaining “energy and strength,” said his daughter. “I should think he will be going home anytime soon.”

The latest description by Zindzi – who is one of Mandela’s daughters by his second wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela – is a significant improvement from court documents filed by the family earlier this month which said he was on life support and near death.

Mandela has been in a Pretoria hospital since June 8 and officials say his condition is critical but stable.

The news of the improvement in Mandela’s health will boost his supporters in South Africa and around the world who are preparing to celebrate his 95th birthday on Thursday, a day declared by the United Nations as a way to recognize the Nobel Prize winner’s contribution to reconciliation.

Interest in Nelson Mandela International Day has ignited as a result of the former South African president’s hospitalization in Pretoria and people find ways to honor his ideals.

A Johannesburg-based foundation named after Mandela and numerous other groups have asked people to volunteer 67 minutes to charity to match what they say are the 67 years that Mandela served his community. Mandela led South Africa through a tense transition from apartheid to democracy and became president in the country’s first all-race elections in 1994.

President Jacob Zuma will mark the birthday by overseeing the donation of houses to poor white families in the Pretoria area, in line with his Cabinet’s theme to commemorate Mandela’s birthday this year by focusing on food security, shelter and literacy.

In Cape Town, labor activists are holding an event at St. George’s Cathedral on Thursday, in remembrance of Mandela’s years of service and to encourage people to donate food to charity while leaving messages of support for the former leader’s family.

Mandela, who is in critical but stable condition, has been hospitalized since June 8, and hundreds of well-wishers have left prayers and messages of hope at his Johannesburg home and at the hospital where he is being treated. Legal documents have said Mandela’s breathing is machine-assisted.

The anti-apartheid leader has also inspired artists and graphic designers who celebrate his life through paintings and posters.

A group of young South African designers created a poster project to offer a global perspective of Mandela with submissions from around the world. The group whittled down 700 posters submitted by designers from more than 70 countries, to 95 for each day of Mandela’s life.

The posters will be unveiled Wednesday and a single special edition auctioned off to raise money for a proposed children’s hospital that will be named after Mandela, the group said.

“He carries across this concept of humanity and selflessness,” said Mohammed Jogie, co-founder of the project.

South African artists John Adams and Paul Blomkamp have painted two of the largest Mandela paintings to honor the man who spent 27 years imprisoned during the system of white minority rule known as apartheid.

Blomkamp said his painting was inspired by Mandela’s energy, which he described as exceptional. Blomkamp said an image of his painting will be featured in a display in New York’s Times Square Thursday in honor of Mandela’s birthday. SAPA/AP

Mandela enters 5th day in hospital

Numerous media houses remained outside a Pretoria hospital on Wednesday as former president Nelson Mandela spent his fifth day there being treated for a recurring lung infection.

More than ten outside broadcast vehicles were parked close to one of the hospital’s entrances.

Security remained tight at the facility, with six police officers manning each entrance. All cars entering the facility were searched.

By 8am, no family members of the elder statesman had been seen entering or leaving the hospital.

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 other two daughters, Makaziwe and Zenani, who is South Africa’s ambassador to Argentina, were also seen at the hospital on Tuesday.

On Saturday, the presidency announced that the ailing icon had been admitted to hospital in the early hours of the morning and was in a “serious but stable” condition.

His condition had 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.

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