TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - U.S. President Barack Obama will visit South Africa on Friday, June 28. However, he will not visit the critically ill Nelson Mandela.
"President Obama would have loved to see Madiba. But he's afraid that his visit will worsen Madiba's condition" South Africa International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told reporters, referring to Mandela by his tribal name.
"In my country, at my age and your age, when people are ill-disposed, we try to give them space to recover," he said as quoted by USA Today. However, Zindzi, Mandela's daughter, told NBC News that Mandela responded when told about Obama's visit to South Africa. "He opened his eyes and gave me a smile."
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are scheduled to arrive at Johannesburg on Friday, and will visit Soweto on Saturday. They will also visit Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned for 30 years. Besides South Africa, the president will also visit Senegal and Tanzania. This is the president's second visit to Africa.
USATODAY.COM | ANINDYA LEGIA PUTRI
