Mandela

World leaders united in wishing the anti-apartheid icon well on his birthday as well as hailing his contribution to global politics and the fight for human rights.

The Nobel peace laureate was celebrating the day quietly with his extended family and grandchildren at his home in Johannesburg.

“He is very well...he is healthy and taking into account the kind of life he had, it is really heartening... he is getting old, he is getting frail but he is absolutely healthy, full of life, spirits high,” Mr. Mandela's wife Graca Machel told BBC.

“He is going to have a cake, his family will surround him... we will gather at home, we will sit around, give him a lot of love,” said Ms. Machel.

The celebrations were not being confined to Mr. Mandela's home in the leafy suburb of Houghton, however.

Ordinary people in South Africa and abroad have committed to devoting 67 minutes of their time to community service, to mark the number of years Mr. Mandela spent in politics, an initiative backed by global figures like the former U.S. President, Jimmy Carter, and Martti Ahtisaari of Finland.

Mr. Mandela's birthday was recognised last year by the United Nations as “Nelson Mandela International Day” and was being celebrated across the world.

“Nelson Mandela is a towering figure. He embodies the highest values of humanity, and of the United Nations,” said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement.

“Nelson Mandela's accomplishments came at great personal cost to himself and his family. Today, on the first Nelson Mandela International Day, we thank him for everything he has done for freedom, for justice and for democracy,” said Mr. Ban.

Thousands of people gathered since early Sunday at Mr. Mandela's birthplace in Mvezo, in the Eastern Cape. President Jacob Zuma was expected to make an address there later Sunday.

People all over the country have dedicated 67 minutes of their time and more to help the less fortunate, from feeding street children, cleaning schools and caring for the elderly.

The UN is celebrating the day with various activities at its centres around the world from African countries like Zambia and Sudan to Kazakhstan.

Communities in Sudan were to participate in a “Football for Peace” tournament in El-Fasher, with the winning team awarded the Nelson Mandela Cup.

Mr. Mandela was jailed for 27 years by the country's white minority government for resisting apartheid rule.

On his release in 1990, he led negotiations with apartheid rulers, a process that culminated in his election as the country's first African-origin President in 1994.

He stepped down as President in 1999, after serving one term in office. — AFP