Well-wishers: children from the Rainbow-Hill Christian school
sing outside the house of Nelson Mandela, on Tuesday. The former
South African president, who is 94, has been in hospital being
treated for a lung infection. The President of South Africa, Jacob
Zuma, said on Tuesday that Mr Mandela's condition was "very
serious", and that "all are praying" for his recovery. Archbishop
Desmond Tutu has said that he is praying for Mr Mandela's "comfort
and dignity".
The Archbishop of Cape Town, Dr Thabo Makgoba, published an open
letter on Thursday. It called on Christians "to join
with me in praying for God's tender merciful hand to be upon our
former President, Nelson Mandela, at this time, and for his love to
enfold dear Madiba, and all who are close to him."
It continued: "The Bible reassures us that 'God is
our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble' (Psalm
46) and it is often when we feel most weak and vulnerable that
God's reassurance comes to us most powerfully. It reminds us that
in life, and in death, nothing can ever separate us from his love,
and that his everlasting arms will never let us slip from his safe
. . . grasp."