Madiba to cut back on workload

2004-05-28 22:36

Jan-Jan Joubert

Cape Town - Former president Nelson Mandela is expected to make a public announcement on Tuesday that he is cutting back on his public role, said his spokesperson Zelda la Grange.

He will not be retiring, however.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation announced on Friday that the former president would be making an announcement on Tuesday in Johannesburg regarding his involvement in three charity organisations - the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and the Mandela Rhodes Foundation.

Sources close to Mandela have been paving the way for such an announcement for the past few weeks. He is now 85, but still extremely active.

For example, on Thursday he visited a school in Koppies and he is to open a school in Potchefstroom on Monday.

According to La Grange, Mandela will outline the details of his future himself on Tuesday, but he will be cutting back on his workload.

La Grange said: "We know there are times when he still needs to appear as a moral leader and he will still keep appointments that already have been made. But it will not be easy to make new appointments.

"There is nothing wrong with his health - two weeks ago, he had a full medical examination.

"All that he wants is for people to allow him to be more rested and to allow him to do what he really wants to do - spend more time with his family," she said.

- Beeld