South Africa’s ruling African National Congress defended itself on Tuesday after it allowed a controversial video of a tired and feeble-looking Nelson Mandela to air on television, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The video was taken during a visit by President Jacob Zuma and other member of ANC to Mandela’s home.
Mandela has been at his house recovering from pneumonia, after the disease hospitalized him in April.
After the video aired Monday on the government-run SABC-TV, many showed public disdain for the video.
The video seemed to go against real life, as President Zuma said Mandela was fine as well as “up and about.”
In reality Mandela was sitting down, his head held up by a thrown pillow, while he had a blank look on his face. His right cheek seemed to display a slight pressure mark where an oxygen mask might have been, things that don’t suggest anyone being “fine” or “up and about.”
"We saw him, he's looking very good, he's in good shape," Zuma said in an interview with SABC. "We had some conversation with him, shook hands, he smiled, as you can see him, that he's really up and about and stabilized. We're really very happy. We think that he's fine."
Many who disagreed with the telecast thought the ANC violated Mandela’s privacy. They also felt that the ANC had used the visit for political purposes. Finally outraged individuals berated the ANC for the use of flash photography.
It's nation-wide common knowledge that Mandela is sensitive to flashes because of the time he spent working on Robben Island in a limestone quarry while he was imprisoned there.
At one point during the broadcast a flash went off and the 94-year old Mandela squint his eyes uncomfortably. He then went back to sitting still as officials tried to get him to smile.
Nelson Mandela is respected globally for his efforts in fighting apartheid and bringing a peaceful democracy to South Africa in 1994.
Many responded on Twitter with shock and pity for Mandela.
“Poor Nelson Mandela. Let him be. No elderly person deserves that," wrote one person.
"They need to stop saying Mandela is doing well. Look at him," wrote another.
The ANC issued statements maintaining its assessment of Mandela’s well-being.
"The African National Congress stands by its statements that President Mandela is in good health and in good spirits," the statement reads. "South Africans are called upon to appreciate that Tata is 94 years old; he will thus be frail and not as active and energetic as we all fondly remember him. There is no reason to be alarmed by the visuals of an elderly person who clearly is receiving the necessary care and attention."
They also said the broadcast was not for political purposes "or to mask what we believe is the fear of South Africans to accept that President Mandela is mortal and aged."
This is the latest ailment for Mandela who got tuberculosis while in jail and has battled lung infections and other illnesses in the past years.
