NELSON MANDELA IN STABLE CONDITION AFTER SURGERY

Former president of the republic of South Africa, Nelson Mandela is reportedly in stable condition after undergoing a surgery on the night of February 24, 2012.

Mr Mandela was rushed to hospital after initial complaints of long-standing abdominal pains, which needed ‘proper specialist medical attention’.

A government spokesman said the former leader was ‘in good spirits and well’.

I can assure you that the former president is in good spirits and well,’ said Mac Maharaj, a spokesman for South Africa president, Jacob Zuma.

He revealed that further information would be released once Mr Zuma and the Mandela family received a full medical report from doctors, but that the former president’s life was not in danger.

‘This was a long-standing complaint – nothing that cropped up suddenly and needed emergency attention‘, said Mr Maharaj, who was in prison in Robben Island with Mr Mandela.

‘But it is an issue that the doctors treating him felt needed specialist attention, and so arrangements were made accordingly‘.

The 93-year-old statesman and anti-apartheid icon has suffered declining health in recent years.

In a statement, President Jacob Zuma’s office said the ‘love and good wishes of all South Africans and people throughout the world’ were with Mr Mandela, and asked for his family to be given privacy

Mandela recently returned to Johannesburg from his rural home in the Eastern Cape and in January last year, he received treatment in the city’s Milpark Hospital for a serious chest infection.

The ‘Madiba’, as he is fondly called by South Africans, retired from public life eight years ago – his last public appearance was at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

SOUTH AFRICA RELEASES BANK NOTES BEARING FORMER PRESIDENT "NELSON MANDELA'S IMAGE"

One of the world's greatest statesmen, anti-apartheid activist and the first democratically elected president of South Africa - President Nelson Mandela, 93, has been honoured by his countrymen with his image on the country's bank notes.

His face repaces designs featuring the "big five" safari animals - Cape buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino. All five notes - 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 rand will now bear Mandela's face on the front.

What a way to honour him and thank God he's still alive to see it!

MANDELA'S SISTER TO BE LAID TO REST, FEB 11

The burial of Nothusile Bhulehluthi, younger sister of former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela, is to be held on February 11, 2012. She was the last surviving sibling of the legendary South African icon and statesman.

She will be buried in Mqanduli in the Eastern Cape of that country confirmed the family spokesman Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela. Ma Bhulehluthi died at the age of 82 on January 28 2012 in Mthatha.

‘Makhulu Bhulehluthi was a dearly loved elder of the Mandela and Bhulehluthi families‘, the spokesman said on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. ‘It is fitting that she be laid to rest alongside her husband, Mthawelanga Bhulehluthi‘, he continued.

Mandela, 94, comes from a large family consisting of thirteen siblings, from four wives of his father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa.

L.A COURT ORDERS MANDELA'S DAUGHTER TO PAY $7.5M

Zindziswa Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s daughter has been ordered by an L.A court to pay a sum of $7.5M (N1.92B) after she allegedly failed to stage a high profiled boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

The whole dispute started back in April 2011 when boxing promoter Duane Moody filed a lawsuit against Mandela, claiming that she owed him ‘millions of Dollars’ emanating from a failed attempt to stage the Pacquiao/Mayweather fight. The bout was to hold in Soweto, South Africa to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 93rd birthday.

Reports say the fight, which Mandela apparently expected to raise $100M (N15B) from, was due to have taken place in November 2011.

Moody also claims that he was promised 15 per cent of the money, but negotiations collapsed. He also claims that he was even thrown out of his hotel in L.A because Mandela who had promised to pay the hotel fees failed to keep to her word.

TMZ reports that Mandela never responded to Moody’s complaint and as a result of that, the judge awarded the promoter $7.3M (N1.7B) plus costs.

‘We haven’t heard anything from any representative for Ms Mandela. It appears she feels hiding in South Africa means she can avoid her obligations in the US’, Moddy’s lawyer said.

TMZ also reports that Zindziswa Mandela, who is the second child of Nelson Mandela’s second wife Winnie, plans to challenge the judgement.