SOUTH AFRICA: PRESIDENT MANDELA'S ROMANCE WITH GRACA MACHEL

(2 Sep 1996) English/Nat
President Mandela's office has confirmed that the South African leader has a new woman in his life following his divorce from Winnie Mandela.
His long-rumoured relationship with 50 year old Graca Machel is now public knowledge.
But some South African's believe 78 year old Mandela is too old for the widow of the late President of Mozambique, Samora Machel.
He spent the best part of three decades behind bars and won a Nobel Peace prize for his tireless work against apartheid - now Nelson Mandela is thinking about himself.
He has fallen in love with Graca Machel, the widow of former Mozambique president Samora Machel, and intends to quit hiding their relationship, according to the Sunday Independent newspaper.
Mandela, 78, and Machel, 50, intend to spend two weeks together each month at his suburban Johannesburg home, according to friends of the Mandela family.
The two have denied rumors of a romance for months, but a spokesman for Mandela confirmed that the newspaper story was basically correct.
SOUNDBITE:
"But I've been authorized to confirm that there is a close relationship, a friendship that exists between the President and Mrs Graca Machel. It has been going on for a while and the President is comfortable with it."
SUPER CAPTION: Parks Mankhahlana, Mandela's spokesman
The spokesman added that there were no plans for marriage.
There was a mixed reaction from South Africans on their leader's new relationship.
VOXPOP:
"Yes, they should get married because nobody's too old to get married. It's right to get married."
VOXPOP:
"Well, I think it's very wrong because President Mandela is very old for her."
VOXPOP:
"It just shows he's still young at heart. I think it's great."
Mandela divorced his second wife, Winnie Mandela, on March 19 of this year.
Mandela, one of the world's most revered figures, and Machel, a revolutionary ally admired for her own leadership, seem certain to become one of Africa's leading couples.
The Sunday Independent newspaper has quoted the ANC as saying the couple will take a higher public profile now that the news is public.
The couple first met in 1990 when he assumed the role of guardian of Machel's seven children after the death of ANC leader Oliver Tambo.
Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for his efforts to combat apartheid.
Graca Machel is a highly popular and influential figure in Mozambique and headed the first United Nations study on the impact of war on children.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

[@whizzkidkis]

uMam Graca gave him some extra vim, the will to live just a little bit longer.

[@patienceotakpor1333]

Hmmmm

[@jimmymshali6661]

Good Graca. toe take a tall. man and make him happy at. all cost

[@djmambopodcasts]

Mandela kills Samora for a woman😒shame

[@irenawanjiru]

what a shame!

[@wilsonwahome8219]

your are the shame

[@Grafafaizl1]

@@wilsonwahome8219 That's a nice reply to that fool

[@ninahmbatha1890]

U are the shame sis