SAfrica's Mandela turns 95, health condition improves steadily

People across the globe today joined South Africans in celebrating the 95th birthday of anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela, with the good news that the ailing peace icon's medical condition has "steadily" improved from a life-threatening lung infection.
South Africans commemorated the country's first black president's birthday with 67 minutes of public service as part of the Mandela Day initiative to honour the 67 years he spent working for the African nation.
The celebrations united South Africans in diverse ways not seen since the euphoria of the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted by the country.
Mandela, regarded the founding father of South Africa's multi-racial democracy, was admitted to a Pretoria hospital on June 8 for a recurring lung infection. Mandela has been hospitalised four times since December.

Well-wishers gathered outside the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria to wish the former president a happy birthday. A variety of renditions of 'Happy Birthday' were sung at the Celliers Street entrance to the hospital.
Earlier, school children across the country kicked off the celebrations by singing "Happy Birthday" to their beloved Madiba, as the revered statesman is fondly known by his clan name in the country.

Mandela's birthday has also been designated International Mandela Day by the United Nations.
President Jacob Zuma today visited the hospital to wish Mandela on his birthday. Upon his arrival at the hospital, a military brass band played the national anthem before a large crowd which had gathered to wish Mandela.

Zuma, earlier in a statement issued by his office, wished the founding father of the nation a "joyous" birthday. "Madiba remains in hospital in Pretoria but his doctors have confirmed that his health is steadily improving," Zuma said in a statement.
"...We wish Madiba a joyous 95th birthday. We are proud to call this international icon our own as South Africans and wish him good health," Zuma said.
Previously, the presidency had been maintaining that Mandela was in a critical but stable condition while court documents had said he was on life support and near death.
Mandela had a long history of lung problems, dating back to the time when he was a political prisoner on Robben Island during apartheid. While in jail he contracted tuberculosis.

Mandela is revered for leading the fight against white minority rule in the African country and then preaching reconciliation despite being imprisoned for 27 years. He served as the country's first black president from 1994 to 1999. He left power after five years as president.