GossipWeLove

Nelson Mandela Is NOT Dead — Twitter Rumors Are False

September 13, 2011Gossipwelove

Joining the ranks of Johnny Depp and Tony Danza, former South African President, Nelson Mandela is the latest public figure to have to defend the fact that he really is alive, despite internet rumors.

Twitter was abuzz on Tuesday with the rumor that Mandela, 93, had died, but he is currently at his home village of Qunu in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province according to state-owned broadcaster SABC.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation denied the rumors that the country’s first black president had died. The statesman was hospitalized for an acute respiratory infection back in January but has since made a complete recovery.

Mandela has suffered his fair share of health issues over the years. In the 1980s while serving his 27-year jail sentence for crimes against the state Mandela was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He also had to undergo an operation to repair the damaged tear ducts in his eyes after they were burnt out during extended periods of hard labor in the prison lime quarries.
In 2001 Mandela underwent treatment for prostate cancer.