Security tightens as Mandela’s illness enters day four

Nelson Mandela

As the former South Africa President, Nelson Mandela spends his fourth day in a Pretoria hospital, security has been beefed up at the entrance and within the hospital premises, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

More members of the South African Police Service  and Metro Police have been deployed tothe hospital where Mandela is believed to be on admission.

Police are searching and scanning all cars entering the hospital premises.

Mandela has been receiving treatment for a recurring lung infection in the hospital.

The presidency in a statement, by its spokesman Mac Maharaj, described his condition as serious, but stable, notingthat Madiba is breathing but with some difficulty..

Maharaj said Mandela was receiving intensive care for doctors and other members of the medical team at the hospital.

President Jacob Zuma and the ruling party, the  African National Congress , have urged all South African tokeep praying for the anti-apartheid icon to ensure a speedy recovery.

Dr NkosazanaDlamini-Zuma, AU Commission chairperson, has added the AU’s voice to the millions of well-wishesfor Mandela.

The AU boss in message wishing Mandela a speedy recovery said: “I am sending him our fervent prayers and numerous get-well-soon messages from the members of staff of the Commission, its organs and peoples of the Union.

“We are giving him courage and urging him to carry on. We will continue to pray and look forward to the Madiba’s speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and we wish him a speedy recovery just as we also pray God to give his family strength to shoulder on in this trying times,” Dlamini-Zuma said.

Meanwhile, a South Africa newspaper, Sowetan as reported that Mandela’s home village of Qunu was preparing forthrongs of visitors.

The newspapers report that some residents were preparing to turn their homes into home-stay accommodation, asthey said there might not be enough place in the village should the ailing icon die.

Villagers, who did not want to be named, told the newspaper there were only three bed and breakfasts inthe icon’s village home.

A member of one of the families in the village said he had converted his house into a 10-bed-room, Bed and Breakfast (B&B) accommodation, noting that the home had previously accommodated many foreigners who came to the village to see Mandela’s home.

NowinothiGeledwana, 63, told the newspaper she had previously rented out some rooms in her house and expectedto do so again, should there be a demand.

“I have about three to four rooms that are available and can be rented out should people prefer home-stay accommodation in Qunu.

“I really don’t know how much I will charge for them, but I’m sure I will make some profit,” Geledwanasaid.

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