Australian Minister Sorry for Announcing Mandela’s Death, Dutch City Council Too; Journalist Insist Mandela Really Dead
Daughters of Nelson Mandela had already confirmed that their father was still showing reaction when being spoken of and when being touched.
However, rumors about the anti-apartheid leader's death continued to be circulated.
We cannot blame daughter Makaziwe Mandela from angrily saying that, "There's sort of a racist element with many of the foreign media, where they just cross boundaries. It's truly like vultures waiting when the lion has devoured the buffalo, waiting there for the last of the carcass. That's the image we have as a family."
South African President Jacob Zuma also voiced out his concern about the nasty rumors surrounding their hero's condition, "The presidency is disturbed by the rumors that are being spread about former President Mandela's health. We appeal for respect for the privacy and dignity of the former president."
In line with the confusion about Mr Mandela's death, Australian Resources Minister Gary Gray wrote an apology for South Africa's high commissioner for falsely announcing that Mr Mandela was already dead.
He sincerely acknowledge that he was wrong when he informed guests attending a Minerals Council of Australia dinner at parliament House that the anti-apartheid hero was already dead.
In a quote from the Associated Press, the statement goes, "I apologize unreservedly and am deeply sorry to have relayed what I thought was reliable advice."
But Mr. Gray was not alone in committing the erroneous announcement.
In the city council of an Amsterdam neighborhood, people observed a minute of silence to mark the death of the South African icon on Tuesday. However, city council member quickly learn about the misinformation.
Sjam Jokhan, in an interview with Het Parool, said, "Mart van de Wiel of the D66/OZO fraction told us during the pause that his hero had died. I tried to verify the report. I found dozens of messages on twitter that seemed to confirm the news, including messages like breaking news and its official. It shows again how careful you have to be with reports on the internet."
Nevertheless, writer Michael Smith of The Guardian Express strongly insisted that Mr Mandela was already dead and that the South African government was just playing a conspiracy game.
Mr. Smith's article as quoted: "This is an update to the original article I wrote last night. It has upset a lot of people and I have written an addendum with new facts that will prove our assertions that the great man is dead. Despite the fact that reliable sources have revealed that after Nelson Mandela's life support machine was shut down and he died with his family around him, the South African government continues to insist that Mandela is recovering and not dead yet. According to our sources in South Africa Nelson Mandela has died in the hospital aged 94. We stand behind our original article and have provided the following information that has been supplied to us by our local South African sources."
Mr Smith's article last night said, "Authorities have confirmed that Nelson Mandela has been taken off his life support machine, adding fuel to the speculation that he had died. Because of this, the rumor has been spreading that Nelson Mandela died last night and that the government and his family "kept a lid" on the news because American President Obama's upcoming trip to South Africa. Obviously, the president's visit will be overshadowed by the announcement... There are rumors that the government will announce his death beginning of July and declare July Mandela month."
Meanwhile, celebrity Rihanna also fell to the rumors of Mr Mandela's death tweeting her prayers for him.
One twitter user posted a picture of Morgan Freeman falsely identifying the actor as Nelson Mandela while other twitter users remained confused.
Nelson Mandela....one of the most incredible men to ever walk this earth!!! Sending prayers up to the Heavens for you! #AngelOnEarth
— Rihanna (@rihanna) June 25, 2013
R.I.P Nelson Mandela You Will Be Missed pic.twitter.com/LRwq4BlmIa — BIG CJ (@GETOFFCJDICK_) June 27, 2013
ARE YOU DUMB??!!“@_WESTSIDECJ: R.I.P Nelson Mandela You Will Be Missed pic.twitter.com/iRcpwTHrUR”
— Cameron Maxfield (@SirCam_TheGreat) June 27, 2013
People posting R.I.P Nelson Mandela along with a picture of Morgan Freeman.....clearly they don't know who passed. — ♥May 31st♥ (@msnicole_ash) June 27, 2013
Why in the hashtag section R.I.P Nelson Mandela, Morgan Freeman's pictures shows up?? #DeadWrong
— Kimberly Ansley (@Kimicalz_Reactz) June 27, 2013