Mandela’s 95th birthday celebrated at home and around world

The day also marked the 15th wedding anniversary of Mr Mandela and Graca Machel, the former First Lady of Mozambique who has spent much of the time at her husband’s side during his illness.

Schools around South Africa honoured the anti-apartheid leader in special assemblies, and many people volunteered 67 minutes for charitable activities to match what organisers said were the 67 years of public service by Mr Mandela, leader of the fight against white minority rule. Activities were also planned at the United Nations headquarters in New York City and other parts of the world.

“We don’t only recognise him on this day. We put smiles on other people’s faces, we donate to other people less fortunate,” Thato Williams, a 13-year-old student, said during an assembly in Mr Mandela’s honour at Melpark Primary School in Johannesburg.

Some 700 students there sang Happy Birthday in a hall filled with posters created to honour Mr Mandela’s contributions to peace and education. “He’s a man that ended the life of apartheid and he’s a man of peace that everyone can look up to,” said Ashley Kunutu, a 12-year-old pupil.

Elsewhere in South Africa, social workers, military commanders and others joined in planting trees, painting hospices, and donating food, blankets and other basic necessities in poor areas. Doctors also administered eye tests and other medical treatments to the needy.

The UN declared yesterday Nelson Mandela International Day as a way of recognising the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s contribution to reconciliation. A procession was held in India to honour Mr Mandela. In Washington, US congressional leaders planned a ceremony later.

President Jacob Zuma said: “We are proud to call this international icon our own as South Africans and wish him good health.”

Mr Mandela was taken to hospital on June 8 for treatment for a recurring lung infection. But he has been making “remarkable progress”, according to one of his daughters, Zindzi, after tense weeks in which it was feared he was on the verge of death.

He was jailed for 27 years under apartheid and led a difficult transition from apartheid to democracy, becoming president in all-race elections in 1994. He served one five-year term, evolving into a global statesman and pursuing charitable causes after that, although he retired from public life nine years ago.