REUTERS

Former South Africa President Nelson Mandela.

A turf war between former president Nelson Mandela’s family, the government and the Nelson Mandela Foundation created the communication crisis around his hospitalisation last week and heightened anxiety over his health.

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe eventually stepped in to take control of the situation, neutralising the family feuds and turf wars by putting the military in charge.

Many South Africans huddled in anxious groups at work and at home last week, around television sets and radios, waiting for news of Mandela’s health, while international news crews descended on Joburg.

There were reports that at least 10 000 well-wishers, including US president Barak Obama, sent messages of support for South Africa’s first democratic leader.

Yesterday, the Nelson Mandela Foundation said it could not be held responsible for the communications mess, but admitted that “there were serious mistakes”, and the government acknowledged that it had learnt a lesson from the crisis.

While speculation about Mandela’s “impending death” spread like wildfire last week, tensions raged among those responsible for taking care of his affairs.

Several sources in the government, the ANC and those close to the foundation confirmed the differences.

Weekend Argus has learned the foundation initially refused the Department of Defence’s request to handle communications on Wednesday after Mandela was transported from Cape Town to an air force base in Pretoria, to treat what Surgeon-General Vejay Ramlakan later described as an acute respiratory infection.

Even attempts by Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to issue a statement were apparently undermined by a vague, one-line statement from the foundation that it was only a routine checkup.

Head of communications at the foundation, Sello Hatang, yesterday said it was “the issue of timing on who issues what (statement)”.

He said the foundation was aware of protocol.

The foundation’s CEO, Achmat Dangor, according to a reliable source, called most of the trustees to reaffirm that they were the only people mandated to speak for Mandela. It is not clear whether Dangor called Motlanthe, who is also a trustee.

Hatang said: “The foundation consults regularly with its trustees on a range of issues… and this was not unique”.

Sisulu – through her spokesman Ndivhuwo Mabaya – praised the foundation’s professionalism and refused to comment on the specifics, but said Motlanthe “speaks on our behalf when he says we could have done it better”.

Another dimension to the crisis was how factions within the Mandela family clashed.

Weekend Argus understands some family members refused to allow Mandela to be admitted to 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria, insisting that his specialist Michael Plit was based in Milpark Hospital, Joburg.

Uncontrolled visits by family, politicians and other dignitaries also caused anxiety, fuelling rumours that Madiba had died.

Distressed by this, Motlanthe on Thursday night instructed the military which is responsible for the welfare of all past and current

presidents - to take over logistical operations at the hospital, limiting access to Mandela.

The military was instructed that only Mandela’s current and past wives - Graça Machel and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela - could visit him, with the presidency making it clear that even cabinet ministers could not visit his ward.

Motlanthe stressed on Friday that the Presidency would in future communicate and give regular updates on Mandela’s condition.

Motlanthe’s visit to Mandela on Friday and the ensuing press conference helped calm the nation.

But the foundation insisted that the press briefing be held at its offices, in what one source described as “a territorial battle”.

Hatang confirmed the decision, but said it was informed by the better facilities at the foundation.

Despite the initial behind-the-scenes agreement, petty squabbles continued minutes before the press briefing as some family members insisted on sitting at the top table with Motlanthe. Chief Mandla Mandela, the former president’s grandson, even answered media questions despite an initial agreement that Motlanthe would speak for all.

Mandla Mandela, according to a man who answered his phone yesterday, was “not available” for comment.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe blamed the media for propelling the hysteria, but accepted that “we must all learn from how this was handled”.

Meanwhile, Motlanthe visited Mandela yesterday after his first night back home from hospital. According to the deputy president’s spokesman, Thabo Masebe, Madiba was “resting” but managed to say a few words, including that he was happy to be at his Houghton home.

The Surgeon General of the SA National Defence Force, Vejaynand Ramlakan, left Mandela’s home after a three-hour visit yesterday and a woman with a stethoscope left shortly before him.

Yesterday there was a buzz of activity from the media outside Madiba’s Houghton home.

Visitors included the former president’s daughter, Zenani Mandela, and Bongani Fassie, son of the late diva, Brenda Fassie.

- Sunday Argus

- Additional reporting by Sapa