25 Memories in the last years of Mandela’s life

Mandela was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001, two years after stepping down as president of South Africa.

Photograph by Malcolm Maifala - Caxton East and South Division.

Mandela announced he would be stepping down from public life on June 1, 2004; a year after he established the Mandela Rhodes Foundation.
In 2009, he votes for the fourth time in his life; he attended the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma on May 9 and witnessed Zuma’s first State of the Nation address.
He was formally presented with the Fifa World Cup trophy before it embarked on a tour of South Africa in 2010.
During the final of the FIFA World Cup, he made a surprise appearance at the final in Soweto.

His second book, Conversations with Myself was published on October 12, 2010.
He meets the South African and American football teams that played in the Nelson Mandela Challenge match in November 2010.
First signs of his ill health; he was admitted to hospital in Johannesburg and discharged after two nights.
On June 27, 2011 his book Nelson Mandela by Himself: the Authorised Book of Quotations is launched.
America’s First Lady, Michelle Obama, and her daughters paid him a visit on June 21, 2011.
Planning to spend more time at a place where he grew up, he spent his 93rd birthday with family and friends in Qunu. He spent Christmas in the Eastern Cape the same year.
He was officially counted during South Africa’s Census in 2011.
He was admitted to hospital on February 25, 2012 and discharged the next day.
He celebrated his 94th Birthday in Qunu, the Eastern Cape.
In December 2012, he was admitted to hospital as he suffered from a lung infection. His stay in hospital prompted the family to suggest that he moves to Johannesburg, closer to the health care he needs.
He spends New Year’s Day with members of his family in Johannesburg.
On March 9, 2013, he was admitted to hospital.
On March 10, 2013, he was discharged from hospital.
On March 27, 2103 he was admitted to hospital.
On April 6, 2013 he was discharged from hospital.
On June 8, he was rushed to a hospital in Pretoria.

During his stay in hospital, his longtime friend, Andrew Mlangeni urges the family and friends to let Madiba go.
On Wednesday June 26, President Jacob Zuma cancelled his trip to Mozambique after visiting Mandela in hospital.
On July 18, 2013 he spent his 95th birthday in hospital.
He was discharged from hospital September 1, after the doctors said they wanted him to receive care from his home in Johannesburg.
Nelson Mandela passed away on December 5, 2013 and he was given a State Funeral in Qunu on December 15, 2014.