Where's Mandela? And What's Up With Prince Charles?

Associated Press -- Source

When was the last time former president Nelson Mandela was seen or heard from? In what condition is he? Is he even still alive? Let me know, I'm really curious and concerned.

A few days ago Brittain's royal couple, Prince Charles and Lady Camilla arrived in South Africa. They are on a five day visit in South Africa. Yesterday they met with Mandela's wife Graca Machel but not with Madiba. I find it curious. Yes, former president Mandela is sickly and weak, but ever the more reason for Prince Charles to at least drop in and give his old peer a nod, for surely he is unlikely to see Mandela again. Unless, of course, the reason he is not visiting with Mandela is not because Mandela "is not receiving visitors," but because he cannot receive anybody since he had passed away. Yeah, all conspiracy theory stuff, but there would be good reason for the powers that be to keep news of his passing hushed for the time being. In politics timing is everything!

Regarding the royal visit: The comments I read under some [1, 2] news reports of Charles and Camilla's visit was most unfavourable. One person said that they are "as exciting as a bar of soap", another wrote "who cares?!", another suggested to get "eggs and naartjies ready" presumably to throw them with, and yet another suggested that they "go back to their island." Gathering from these and other even less flattering comments, it would seem that the average South African is not too keen on the English royals.

The prince is spending much of his time in South Africa talking about climate change (his favourite topic) and economic ties between South Africa and Britain. On Sunday he will depart for Tanzania, which is another African country like South Africa with very strong trading ties to China and lots of local Chinese investment. Maybe his visit to South Africa had more to do with concerns about China's foothold in Africa, than anything else. As I wrote last month, the ties between South Africa and China is much more sinister that we are led to believe.