Residents of Mandela's hometown happy he is responding to treatment
Reuters
2013-06-12
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Humble beginnings for a man who would be President.
Just outside Nelson Mandela's house in his hometown of Qunu , residents say they're happy the anti apartheid leader is responding well to treatment for a recurring lung infection that dates back to his days as a political prisoner.
(SOUNDBITE) (Xhosa) MENZI SOYAYA, QUNU RESIDENT, SAYING
"Obviously we would be very unhappy if he left us because he is a hero to us. We are here because of him."
Happy -- but anxious, too, of what could happen if Mandela WERE to die.
(SOUNDBITE) (Xhosa) LWANDO GWEDO, RESIDENT SAYING
"He does a lot for us in Qunu. He got us electricity, gave us the roads. If he were to die it will be very difficult for us to get these things and we are scared that if he were to die, we risk going back to the dark days of apartheid."
Mandela was in 'serious but stable' condition at a Pretoria hospital, after being admitted Saturday.
It's his fourth hospital stay since December.
Just outside Nelson Mandela's house in his hometown of Qunu , residents say they're happy the anti apartheid leader is responding well to treatment for a recurring lung infection that dates back to his days as a political prisoner.
(SOUNDBITE) (Xhosa) MENZI SOYAYA, QUNU RESIDENT, SAYING
"Obviously we would be very unhappy if he left us because he is a hero to us. We are here because of him."
Happy -- but anxious, too, of what could happen if Mandela WERE to die.
(SOUNDBITE) (Xhosa) LWANDO GWEDO, RESIDENT SAYING
"He does a lot for us in Qunu. He got us electricity, gave us the roads. If he were to die it will be very difficult for us to get these things and we are scared that if he were to die, we risk going back to the dark days of apartheid."
Mandela was in 'serious but stable' condition at a Pretoria hospital, after being admitted Saturday.
It's his fourth hospital stay since December.
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