Zuma opens Mandela exhibition

A Nelson Mandela mural in progress by internationally renowned Cape Town graffiti artist Mak1One, seen in Cape Town on Monday 18 November 2013. President Jacob Zuma visited the former president at his Houghton home in Johannesburg on Monday. Zuma presented Mandela with the Lifetime Award for Global Peace from the Mahathir Global Peace Foundation, which he received on Mandela's behalf in Malaysia. "The health of the former president remains much the same as it was when President Zuma last visited him, which is stable but critical, while Madiba continues to respond to treatment," spokesman Mac Maharaj said in a statement. Picture: Nardus Engelbrecht/SAPA

A Nelson Mandela mural in progress by internationally renowned Cape Town graffiti artist Mak1One, seen in Cape Town on Monday 18 November 2013. President Jacob Zuma visited the former president at his Houghton home in Johannesburg on Monday. Zuma presented Mandela with the Lifetime Award for Global Peace from the Mahathir Global Peace Foundation, which he received on Mandela's behalf in Malaysia. "The health of the former president remains much the same as it was when President Zuma last visited him, which is stable but critical, while Madiba continues to respond to treatment," spokesman Mac Maharaj said in a statement. Picture: Nardus Engelbrecht/SAPA

Published Nov 18, 2013

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Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma arrived at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Houghton on Monday.

Zuma was scheduled to open the Centre's public facility and its permanent exhibition on the life and times of Nelson Mandela.

Among the other guests in attendance were Mandela's wife Graca Machel, apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada, Mandela's grandson Mandla and Nelson Mandela Foundation trustee Tokyo Sexwale.

Mandla Mandela said he was looking forward to the public finally getting the opportunity to see his grandfather's legacy.

“It is a privilege that my grandfather's legacy is preserved. This is a state of 1/8the 3/8 art facility,” he said.

“We are really enjoying the moment 1/8as a family 3/8. It's an exciting time. We thank the ANC for recognising his legacy.”

The centre would be open to the public to look through the archives collected by the former president's foundation over the years.

The exhibition includes a view of Mandela's old office, a number of the publications in which he has been published, the Nobel Peace Prize he was awarded in 2003 and a number of other artefacts.

Earlier, Zuma visited Mandela at his Houghton home.

“The health of the former president remains much the same as it was when President Zuma last visited him, which is stable but critical, while Madiba continues to respond to treatment,” presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said in a statement.

“President Zuma conveyed the well wishes of all South Africans, and those of the peoples of the world, to the Mandela family and assured them that nations are united in their thoughts and prayers for him.”

Earlier this year, Mandela spent almost three months in hospital for a recurring lung infection before being discharged on September 1 to continue receiving treatment at home.

Sapa

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