NELSON MANDELA MAKES ‘DRAMATIC’ PROGRESS ON EVE OF 95TH BIRTHDAY, SAYS DAUGHTER.

JOHANNESBURG — Nelson Mandela has made "dramatic progress," and may be
going home "anytime soon," said his daughter Zindzi on the eve of his
95th birthday.

"I visited him yesterday and he was watching television with
headphones," said Zindzi Mandela in an interview with Britain's Sky
TV. "He gave us a huge smile and raised his hand ... He responds with
his eyes and his hands."

Mandela is gaining "energy and strength," said his daughter. "I should
think he will be going home anytime soon."

The latest description by Zindzi — who is one of Mandela's daughters
by his second wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela — is a significant
improvement from court documents filed by the family earlier this
month which said he was on life support and near death.

Mandela has been in a Pretoria hospital since June 8 and officials say
his condition is critical but stable.

The news of the improvement in Mandela's health will boost his
supporters in South Africa and around the world who are preparing to
celebrate his 95th birthday on Thursday, a day declared by the United
Nations as a way to recognize the Nobel Prize winner's contribution to
reconciliation.

Interest in Nelson Mandela International Day has ignited as a result
of the former South African president's hospitalization in Pretoria
and people find ways to honor his ideals.

A Johannesburg-based foundation named after Mandela and numerous other
groups have asked people to volunteer 67 minutes to charity to match
what they say are the 67 years that Mandela served his community.
Mandela led South Africa through a tense transition from apartheid to
democracy and became president in the country's first all-race
elections in 1994.

President Jacob Zuma will mark the birthday by overseeing the donation
of houses to poor white families in the Pretoria area, in line with
his Cabinet's theme to commemorate Mandela's birthday this year by
focusing on food security, shelter and literacy.

In Cape Town, labor activists are holding an event at St. George's
Cathedral on Thursday, in remembrance of Mandela's years of service
and to encourage people to donate food to charity while leaving
messages of support for the former leader's family.

Mandela, who is in critical but stable condition, has been
hospitalized since June 8, and hundreds of well-wishers have left
prayers and messages of hope at his Johannesburg home and at the
hospital where he is being treated. Legal documents have said
Mandela's breathing is machine-assisted.

The anti-apartheid leader has also inspired artists and graphic
designers who celebrate his life through paintings and posters.

A group of young South African designers created a poster project to
offer a global perspective of Mandela with submissions from around the
world. The group whittled down 700 posters submitted by designers from
more than 70 countries, to 95 for each year of Mandela's life.

The posters will be unveiled Wednesday and a single special edition
auctioned off to raise money for a proposed children's hospital that
will be named after Mandela, the group said.

"He carries across this concept of humanity and selflessness," said
Mohammed Jogie, co-founder of the project.

South African artists John Adams and Paul Blomkamp have painted two of
the largest Mandela paintings to honor the man who spent 27 years
imprisoned during the system of white minority rule known as
apartheid.

Blomkamp said his painting was inspired by Mandela's energy, which he
described as exceptional. Blomkamp said an image of his painting will
be featured in a display in New York's Times Square Thursday in honor
of Mandela's birthday.