Former US President Bill Clinton had the rare pleasure of an audience with Nelson Mandela on Tuesday, the day before the iconic South African celebrated his 94st birthday.
The two men spent most of the afternoon together discussing world affairs and their lives in retirement.
Mr Clinton was accompanied by his daughter Chelsea, while Mr Mandela's wife Graca and members of his family were also present for the meeting at Mr Mandela's rural home in Qunu in South Africa's Eastern Cape.
Mr Mandela's grandson Kweku said the pair were "old friends".
"Clinton has made a point of coming to see the old man which he is really happy about," he said. "He was very pleased to see him."
The two men have met regularly both during their times in office and since stepping down, and Mr Clinton famously credited South Africa's first black president with saving his marriage by counselling him through the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
Mr Clinton is in South Africa as part of an African tour that takes in Mozambique, Rwanda, and Uganda, to inspect the health and social projects his eponymous foundation has helped to fund.
Millions of South Africans will today undertake 67 minutes of good deeds today to celebrate the 67 years Nelson Mandela dedicated to public life, an initiative that now coincides with his birthday each year.
At 8am South African time (7am UK time), people around the world are encouraged to join in a communal "Happy Birthday" singalong to kick off Nelson Mandela International Day.
The aim is to persuade 20 million people to sing together in a bid to break a world record.
Celebrities, politicians, sportsmen, businesses and ordinary citizens will take part in group activities such as planting trees, painting schools, running charity cake sales and visiting old people's homes.
Andrew Mlangeni, an anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned with him on Robben Island, said striving to emulate his values would be the best tribute.
"Living up to the ideals that he sacrificed so much for would be the greatest gift South Africans today could give Mandela," the 86-year-old said.
"I wish him long life and good health. His presence is a blessing to all us South Africans and the world."
Mr Mandela himself is expected to spend his birthday enjoying a lunch at his home in Qunu, which is close to his birthplace, surrounded by his large family and close friends. The frail former president, who has been hospitalised twice in the past two years, is rarely seen in public these days and this week, was unable to attend his cousin's funeral in the town because of the cold South African winter.
Kweku Mandela, a filmmaker, said he was nonetheless "in good spirits".
"He always is when he is home in Qunu," he said. "We have bought him a cake and most of the family is arriving this evening. We're going to have a big lunch and generally, do what most families do on birthdays."
Millions of South Africans will today undertake 67 minutes of good deeds today to celebrate the 67 years Nelson Mandela dedicated to public life, an initiative that now coincides with his birthday each year.
At 8am South African time (7am UK time), people around the world are encouraged to join in a communal "Happy Birthday" singalong to kick off Nelson Mandela International Day.
The aim is to persuade 20 million people to sing together in a bid to break a world record.
Celebrities, politicians, sportsmen, businesses and ordinary citizens will take part in group activities such as planting trees, painting schools, running charity cake sales and visiting old people's homes.
Andrew Mlangeni, an anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned with him on Robben Island, said striving to emulate his values would be the best tribute.
"Living up to the ideals that he sacrificed so much for would be the greatest gift South Africans today could give Mandela," the 86-year-old said.
"I wish him long life and good health. His presence is a blessing to all us South Africans and the world."
Mr Mandela himself is expected to spend his birthday enjoying a lunch at his home in Qunu, which is close to his birthplace, surrounded by his large family and close friends. The frail former president, who has been hospitalised twice in the past two years, is rarely seen in public these days and this week, was unable to attend his cousin's funeral in the town because of the cold South African winter.
Kweku Mandela, a filmmaker, said he was nonetheless "in good spirits".
"He always is when he is home in Qunu," he said. "We have bought him a cake and most of the family is arriving this evening. We're going to have a big lunch and generally, do what most families do on birthdays."
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