BelindaJacob
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- Nov 24, 2008
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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNN) -- Former South African president Nelson Mandela is celebrating his 91st birthday Saturday -- as his wife reveals he is struggling to deal with the indignities of aging.
Graca Machel told CNN in an exclusive interview that the Nobel Peace Prize winner was finding it difficult to come to terms with the limitations of age but he is fighting to carry on working with his charities.
Mandela spent 27 years in jail before his release and was elected as South Africa's first black president in 1994. The veteran anti-apartheid campaigner is using his birthday to promote a message of helping others.
Machel said Mandela was too frail to travel overseas to the New York launch of the new charity initiative Mandela Day.Mandela, whom she calls Madiba, was spending the day at home in Johannesburg with his family.
His wife said he still keeps busy working with his charities but has slowed down, something he finds frustrating.
"It's all about that living the legacy because now he's handing it over to future generations." - Mandela's daughter (Zindzi).
More: www.cnn.com
Graca Machel told CNN in an exclusive interview that the Nobel Peace Prize winner was finding it difficult to come to terms with the limitations of age but he is fighting to carry on working with his charities.
Mandela spent 27 years in jail before his release and was elected as South Africa's first black president in 1994. The veteran anti-apartheid campaigner is using his birthday to promote a message of helping others.
Machel said Mandela was too frail to travel overseas to the New York launch of the new charity initiative Mandela Day.Mandela, whom she calls Madiba, was spending the day at home in Johannesburg with his family.
His wife said he still keeps busy working with his charities but has slowed down, something he finds frustrating.
"It's all about that living the legacy because now he's handing it over to future generations." - Mandela's daughter (Zindzi).
More: www.cnn.com
