Mandela left isolated by family deaths

[JoFerret]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/southafrica/story/0,13262,1386268,00.html

A spate of deaths is turning Nelson Mandela, the world's most admired statesman, into one of its loneliest. The death of his only surviving son, Makgatho, 54, to an Aids-related illness last week was the latest bereavement to devastate South Africa's former president.
Last year he retired from public life to spend more time with friends and relatives, but for some it has come too late, leaving the 86-year-old to rue the sacrifices of a lifetime in politics.

In rapid succession he has buried a daughter-in-law, Zondi, 46, his first wife, Evelyn Mase, 82, his closest comrade, Walter Sisulu, and a string of others. At each funeral Mandela's face was stone, the smile and twinkle extinguished, and last week was no different when he summoned journalists to his Johannesburg home to announce Makgatho's passing.

He was flanked by his third wife, Graca Machel, and several grandchildren, and condolences flooded in from around the world, but nothing could disguise the pain.

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[roguevalley]

1. some times you can live too long. my grandpa was born in

1885. I remember having to strike out the 19 so I could write 1885 on his hospital admission sheet. He was the last born in his family and all his relatives came from say, 1840 on. His sister-in-law walked to Oregon on the Oregon Trail. He was the last one left when he died. Its very sad.

[Maple]

2. He wasn't the last one left

You're around.

And so are Mandela's grandchildren

[d_b]

3. That man has had one hell of a life.

[CottonBear]

4. God bless Nelson Mandela.

Truly a good human being. He has been a light in these dark times and now we need to support him.

[Vidar]

5. I hope there is some better afterlife for men like Mandela. He deserves

the best, and certainly hasn't received it here.