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Nelson Mandela 'on life support'

Well wishers walk in front of a wall covered with messages to Nelson Mandela in Pretoria

Picture: AFP

By Aislinn Laing, Johannesburg and David Blair in Pretoria10:45PM BST 26 Jun 2013

A relative of Nelson Mandela last night confirmed for the first time that he is on life support, and using machines to help him breathe.

The news came as President Jacob Zuma called off a scheduled trip to Mozambique.

"Yes, he is using machines to breathe," clan member Napilisi Mandela said after visiting Mr Mandela. "It is bad, but what can we do."

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With no further update from President Jacob Zuma's office about the adored 94-year-old's state of health, three days after he slipped into a critical condition after almost three weeks in hospital, speculation is rife that his life is close to its end.

Elders from Mr Mandela's Madiba clan centred around the South African former president's rural home in the Eastern Cape are understood to have travelled to Pretoria on Wednesday to see the ailing leader for themselves and, according to one quoted by South Africa's Times newspaper, "discuss what should be done."

The previous day, Mr Mandela's daughter Makaziwe flew to Qunu along with several grandchildren to brief them on his condition and discuss plans for his burial.

Mr Mandela has a team of doctors supporting him, according to South Africa's Citizen newspaper, with numerous sources close to the family saying he was on life support. One source was quoted as saying that Mr Mandela's family had the option to switch off the ventilator.

Contacted by The Daily Telegraph, members of Mr Mandela's family declined to speak about the veracity of the reports. One, granddaughter Nandi Mandela, said: "I can't comment on private matters."

George Bizos, one of Mr Mandela's closest friends and his former lawyer, told The Telegraph that they had never discussed his wishes towards the end of his life but added that he would have wanted all of his family closely involved in decisions about it.

"We can only hope for the best, and that is what the doctors decide to do," he said. "I am sure that the members of the family are discussing the matter with the doctors but it should probably be primarily the doctors in consultation with the family if the situation is critical."

Mr Mandela is believed to have said he wants to be buried on a hillside overlooking the home he built in his childhood village of Qunu after he was released from prison, along with the three of his six children who have already died.

One, Makaziwe, died in infancy, while Themebekile died aged 25 in a car accident and Makgatho, died of an Aids related illness in his 50s.

Their bodies were exhumed and moved from a family graveyard across the road from Mr Mandela's home to Mvezo, the village 20 miles south where he was born, by his grandson, Mandla, the area's traditional chieftain and Makgatho's son, in 2011.

Reports suggested that Tuesday's meeting between the family and the elders in Qunu became heated when it was suggested that the bodies be moved back from Mvezo, where Chief Mandla Mandela has built a large complex including accommodation huts and a museum space, to Mr Mandela's home in Qunu.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for Chief Mandela denied reports that he had walked out of the meeting, or challenged the suggestion.

"The graves have been in Mvezo, the birthplace of his grandfather, for a while now," Freddy Pilusa said. "He has no issues with any authorised member of the family relocating any of the graves. He is really not angry about that at all.

"He can't discuss his grandfather's burial while he is still alive. His focus is on getting him better."

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