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| Barack Obama flies to South Africa in unaccustomed role of sideshow | Barack Obama flies to South Africa in unaccustomed role of sideshow |
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| Barack Obama landed in South Africa on Friday night, cast in the unaccustomed role of best supporting statesman as the nation prays for a critically ill Nelson Mandela. | |
| The collision of history threatens to overshadow his first visit as US president to Africa's biggest economy, although his oratory can be expected to rise to the occasion of honouring the anti-apartheid hero. | |
| The prospect of a meeting between the first black presidents of the US and South Africa has receded since the 94-year-old Mandela was taken to hospital with a recurring lung infection three weeks ago. But on Friday Obama indicated it had not been ruled out. "We'll see what the situation is when we land," he told journalists onboard Air Force One. | |
| "I don't need a photo op, and the last thing I want to do is to be in any way obtrusive at a time when the family is concerned about Nelson Mandela's condition. | "I don't need a photo op, and the last thing I want to do is to be in any way obtrusive at a time when the family is concerned about Nelson Mandela's condition. |
| "I've had the opportunity to meet with him. Michelle and the girls had an opportunity to meet with him. Right now, our main concern is with his wellbeing, his comfort, and with the family's wellbeing and comfort." | "I've had the opportunity to meet with him. Michelle and the girls had an opportunity to meet with him. Right now, our main concern is with his wellbeing, his comfort, and with the family's wellbeing and comfort." |
| The president added: "So when we get there we'll gauge the situation, but I think the main message we'll want to deliver if not directly to him but to his family is simply our profound gratitude for his leadership all these years and that the thoughts and prayers of the American people are with him, and his family, and his country. I think in that sense, the sentiment of Americans is universally shared around the world." | The president added: "So when we get there we'll gauge the situation, but I think the main message we'll want to deliver if not directly to him but to his family is simply our profound gratitude for his leadership all these years and that the thoughts and prayers of the American people are with him, and his family, and his country. I think in that sense, the sentiment of Americans is universally shared around the world." |
| The White House has previously indicated that it will be guided by Mandela's relatives whether Obama should visit him in hospital. Mandela's daughter Zindzi told America's NBC News: "The doctors are the ones who approve. So for me right now it's as we way, a wait and see. I know for a fact my father is fond of President Obama. | The White House has previously indicated that it will be guided by Mandela's relatives whether Obama should visit him in hospital. Mandela's daughter Zindzi told America's NBC News: "The doctors are the ones who approve. So for me right now it's as we way, a wait and see. I know for a fact my father is fond of President Obama. |
| "They met before when he was still senator and he [Mandela] responded to me very positively the other day when I said to him: 'Obama is coming' … I had been chatting to him about a whole lot of stuff that suppose he found quite boring probably – just slept throughout – but when I spoke about President Obama, his eyes just flew open and he gave me the sweetest, more gentle smile." | "They met before when he was still senator and he [Mandela] responded to me very positively the other day when I said to him: 'Obama is coming' … I had been chatting to him about a whole lot of stuff that suppose he found quite boring probably – just slept throughout – but when I spoke about President Obama, his eyes just flew open and he gave me the sweetest, more gentle smile." |
| Unless the family makes such a request, it seems more likely that Obama could spend some time on Saturday with Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, and other relatives. | Unless the family makes such a request, it seems more likely that Obama could spend some time on Saturday with Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, and other relatives. |
| Eusebius McKaiser,a political analyst and radio talkshow host, said a meeting between Obama and Mandela would be undesirable. "Nelson Mandela is incredibly frail and in the process of possibly dying," he noted. His "bodily demise" should not be confused with his political legacy, McKaiser added, arguing that Obama should keep the latter alive through speech and action rather than "trying to engage his legacy by being physically present". | Eusebius McKaiser,a political analyst and radio talkshow host, said a meeting between Obama and Mandela would be undesirable. "Nelson Mandela is incredibly frail and in the process of possibly dying," he noted. His "bodily demise" should not be confused with his political legacy, McKaiser added, arguing that Obama should keep the latter alive through speech and action rather than "trying to engage his legacy by being physically present". |
| The leader of the world's dominant superpower can seldom have found himself reduced to a sideshow on foreign shores. McKaiser reflected: "Obama would never be overshadowed domestically in any country as he is by Madiba [Mandela's clan name]. Nelson Mandela is such a larger than life figure that the only way Obama seems to be able to get press coverage of his African tour is when he talks about Nelson Mandela. That's quite remarkable when you consider the geopolitical importance of the US presidency." | The leader of the world's dominant superpower can seldom have found himself reduced to a sideshow on foreign shores. McKaiser reflected: "Obama would never be overshadowed domestically in any country as he is by Madiba [Mandela's clan name]. Nelson Mandela is such a larger than life figure that the only way Obama seems to be able to get press coverage of his African tour is when he talks about Nelson Mandela. That's quite remarkable when you consider the geopolitical importance of the US presidency." |
| Obama and the first lady have a busy schedule in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town over the weekend, but media reports said it could be torn up should Mandela lose his fight for life. | Obama and the first lady have a busy schedule in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town over the weekend, but media reports said it could be torn up should Mandela lose his fight for life. |
| An Obama camp source quoted in South Africa's Mail & Guardian newspaper said: "If something happens, we're not going to continue with some of the events. At this point, we're watching the news closely on Mandela." | An Obama camp source quoted in South Africa's Mail & Guardian newspaper said: "If something happens, we're not going to continue with some of the events. At this point, we're watching the news closely on Mandela." |
| On Friday, about 200 South Africans staged an anti-US protest just a few blocks from the hospital in Pretoria where Mandela has spent nearly three weeks receiving treatment for the recurring lung infection. Trade unionists, student activists and South African Communist party members demonstrated against Obama's "arrogant, selfish and oppressive" foreign policy. | On Friday, about 200 South Africans staged an anti-US protest just a few blocks from the hospital in Pretoria where Mandela has spent nearly three weeks receiving treatment for the recurring lung infection. Trade unionists, student activists and South African Communist party members demonstrated against Obama's "arrogant, selfish and oppressive" foreign policy. |
| "We had expectations of America's first black president," Khomotso Makola, a 19-year-old law student, told Reuters. "Knowing Africa's history, we expected more. He has come as a disappointment: I think Mandela too would be disappointed and feel let down." | "We had expectations of America's first black president," Khomotso Makola, a 19-year-old law student, told Reuters. "Knowing Africa's history, we expected more. He has come as a disappointment: I think Mandela too would be disappointed and feel let down." |
| But at the Mediclinic heart hospital where Mandela is being cared for, Nigerian painter Sanusi Olatunji, 31, had brought portraits of both Mandela and Obama to a wall where flowers, tribute notes and gifts have been piling up."These are the two great men of my lifetime," he told Reuters. "To me, Mandela is a prophet who brought peace and opportunity. He made it possible for a black man like me to live in a country that was only for whites." | But at the Mediclinic heart hospital where Mandela is being cared for, Nigerian painter Sanusi Olatunji, 31, had brought portraits of both Mandela and Obama to a wall where flowers, tribute notes and gifts have been piling up."These are the two great men of my lifetime," he told Reuters. "To me, Mandela is a prophet who brought peace and opportunity. He made it possible for a black man like me to live in a country that was only for whites." |
| On Saturday, Obama is due to visit Soweto, the sprawling township where Mandela used to live, and on Sunday he will head to Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. | On Saturday, Obama is due to visit Soweto, the sprawling township where Mandela used to live, and on Sunday he will head to Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. |
| Mandela remains in a "critical but stable" condition. South Africans held prayer meetings and vigils outside the hospital and his former Soweto home on Thursday night. | Mandela remains in a "critical but stable" condition. South Africans held prayer meetings and vigils outside the hospital and his former Soweto home on Thursday night. |
| On Friday, his former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, gave an upbeat assessment of his health. "I'm not a doctor but I can say that from what he was a few days ago there is great improvement," she told reporters outside their former home in Soweto. | On Friday, his former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, gave an upbeat assessment of his health. "I'm not a doctor but I can say that from what he was a few days ago there is great improvement," she told reporters outside their former home in Soweto. |
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