South Africans Celebrate as Mandela Clocks 93

South Africans all over the world celebrates Mandela Day, marking the 93rd birthday of the country’s first black president,
with each citizen urged to donate 67 minutes for volunteer work — a minute for every year he devoted himself to the anti-apartheid struggle. Celebrations kick off at 0605 GMT with some 12.4 million children in schools around the country singing “Happy Birthday”

His foundation has urged people to do 67 minutes of voluntary work on the day – to represent the 67 years he devoted to South Africa’s political struggle.

The anti-apartheid icon is expected to spend the day with family in his home village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape.

Millions of school children have simultaneously sung him a special birthday song.

It is not clear whether the target of 12.4m was reached to set a new world record for the number of people singing to an individual at the same time.

The song Happy Birthday Tata Madiba – specially composed for his 93rd birthday was sung at school assemblies across the country.

Mr Mandela, who is a hero to many in South Africa and around the world for his long fight against white minority rule, has appeared increasingly frail since he retired from public life in 2004.

He has been receiving round-the-clock medical care at home following his release from hospital in January where he was treated for an acute respiratory infection, says the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko in Johannesburg.

Known to South Africans by his clan name Madiba, Mr Mandela has not appeared at a public engagement since the closing ceremony of the football World Cup in July 2010.

A photo released ahead of his birthday shows him smiling and surrounded by members of his family.The Nelson Mandela Foundation, backed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said it wanted Mr Mandela’s birthday to inspire people to help make the world a better place.
School children hold birthday cards during a symbolic handover on 17 July 2011 at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg School children have made birthday cards for Mr Mandela

“If a man could dedicate 67 years of his life to doing good for the world, imagine what we could achieve if everyone just gave 67 minutes of their time to do the same,” said Said Achmat Dangor, the head of the foundation.

South African companies, charities and celebrities have all announced plans for voluntary work they will do on the day.

Mr Ban urged others around the world to do the same. “The best way we can thank Nelson Mandela for his work is by taking action for others and inspiring change,” he said.

In a statement released ahead of the occasion, US President Barack Obama said Mr Mandela’s life and legacy exemplified “wisdom, strength and grace”.

His wife, Michelle Obama, and daughters met Mr Mandela last month in Johannesburg during a visit to South Africa.

Mr Obama said his family’s time with Mr Mandela was “the most moving part of their trip”.

Mr Mandela stood down as South Africa’s president in 1999 after serving one term, handing over to Thabo Mbeki.

After leaving prison in 1990 following 27 years in jail, he led the African National Congress party to a landslide victory in 1994 – the first time South Africa’s black majority was allowed to vote.