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Stephane De Sakutin / AFP - Getty Images
School children sing happy birthday to former South African President Nelson Mandela as he turned 94 on July 18, 2012, at Batsogile Primary School in Soweto.
Siphiwe Sibeko / Reuters
Lutho Makhalima, right, reads a book to Nobantu Mbhokodi as part of a 'Mandela Day' campaign asking people to volunteer their time for good causes, in Qunu on July 18, 2012.
Stephane De Sakutin / AFP - Getty Images
Schoolchildren sing happy birthday to Mandela -- popularly known as Madiba -- at Batsogile Primary School in Soweto.
South Africa's 12 million schoolchildren began their day with a special 94th birthday song for former president Nelson Mandela, ringing with the line: "We love you father".
Special events are being held across the country in what has become known as "Mandela Day". The former leader's birthday is used for a campaign that aims to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better by asking people to give 67 minutes of their time painting schools, planting trees, visiting orphanages and old age homes to honour Mandela's 67 years of political activism.
The Sowetan newspaper reported that Mandela would be celebrating his birthday over lunch with his family, with the menu likely to include his favorite meal of samp and tripe.
-- Agence France Presse and Reuters contributed to this post
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Schalk Van Zuydam / AP
Nelson Mandela is pictured on his birthday in his home village of Qunu on July 18, 2012.
Schalk Van Zuydam / AP
A woman carrying oranges on her head walks to a party in honor of Nelson Mandela in Mvezo, South Africa, on July 18, 2012.
Schalk Van Zuydam / AP
Children put on clothes that were given to them during a celebration for Mandela's birthday in Mvezo on July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday.
Peter Morey / Reuters
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton visits Mandela at his home in Qunu on July 17, 2012, the day before Mandela's 94th birthday.
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View images of civil rights leader Nelson Mandela, who went from anti-apartheid activist to prisoner to South Africa's first black president.
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Happy Birthday Mr Mandela. You are so special you deserve that much of a celebation.
Thank you Nelson Mandela ? I see the pics of the happyness in poverty and good old Bill Clinton. Obama and the dems wish us the same kind of happyness.
Poverty is everywhere, Jim. I know you can't stand to see accolades go to a black man, but grow up. The guy is not perfect, but he did some good. If you have to hate, at least have the grace to keep it to yourself.
It has is not about skin color in this day and age. jock59801 it is the likes of you who live in the past glorious days of the civil rights movement. If you and your kind would remember the words of the great Martin Luther King. It is all about the content of character and always has been.
Yeah, South Africa is really rolling along since the honkies were chased out of power. Zimbabwe is even better.
Wow, he doesn't look a day over 80. Happy birthday!
the great savior...yea right. south africa went backwards since his rule...
Yea, back to the people who belong there
stewie4844, give it a chance. The underclass has been given freedom and they do not know how to handle it yet. It takes education , wisdom , moral values and determination for freedom to stand a chance. South Africa was not blessed with the great leadership of founding fathers like America. Do not expect South Africa to be like America.
LOL...yeah Happy Birthday to the man who turned the Union of South Africa from a First World state to a Third World ghetto on U.S. welfare!!! What a joke!!!
you are a joke. Please tell me what have you done with your life? What have you done to benefit others? Other than write blogs that show your ignaorance and bias. I suppose you write the same comment for Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mother Theresa.
Nelson Mandela has kept South Africa from slipping into a civil war. He also gives all South Africans hope that they can live in peace.You cant call the former South Africa a true leading economic system that was based on only part of the people having basic human rights.
When he could have called for justice and revenge against his former opressors, he called for forgiveness and reconciliation. After 27 years in prison for demanding basic human dignity for all mankind, he walked out without bitterness and led the call for equal rights for all of his countrymen. May his example be held high for all mankind to emulate! Happy Birthday Mr. Mandela!!
I so not surprised to see the racists oriented comments. Many would have preferred that the racists foreigners in South africa continue to rape the country of its natural resources and slave labour wages to the black majority in their own land. The should ne greatful there was no blood bath. Happy birthday Mr. Mandela.
To hold on to that and use it as cop out for future generations like black America, will doom their future.
What an honor it is for me to walk the same earth at the same time as this great man. May God grant you good health in your remaining years. Happy birthday, Madiba.
They happily sang "
'We love you father' to Joseph Stalin and all the other tin-pot totalitarians of history. It's the same brain fever.
"
I don't get it, black on black slavery running rampid in South Africa....Mandella does nothing.
Like black on black crime , it is ok. sweep it under the rug because it does fit the story line of black oppression from whitey.
Bless you Mr Nelson Mandela. The world is better for your presence in it. As was said by another. I am honored to have lived and walked upon the same Earth at the same time as you. With all the death and misery, I have lived during and been influenced by the lives of such heroes as Madiba, Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Wow, it seems like he certainly has been blessed with a long and prosperous life in his older years after suffering so much with many years of harsh imprisonment. He looks "young" for 94, is a survivor, and I'm sure has a lot of wisdom learned from the perils of life.
Freedom is not free. He is one of many great men in history that paid a price for freedom. I hope the people of South Africa can live up to the examble Mandela has set for them.
Happy birthday to you Madiba. You are a perfect role model to all leaders and to all the people of today. Despite all the wrong that has been done to you and your people, you were so forgiving. If the world has many selfless leaders like you it would be a better place. You are so inspiring. I wish you many many more birthdays and good health. Your wisdom is still needed in this world that is full of hatred and misery for no reason. Viva Madiba.
Is that ole @!$%# still alive? He should come to King Obamas country and thrive on welfare.
Welfare is like a drug. It can help a person get out of poverty by giving one a hand up or one can become addicted to it as a hand out and thus kill the human spirit to thrive and prosper. More people in America is on welfare than ever in in our history. How much freedom do you have if your on government welfare ?
Happy Birthday, Mr. Mandelas.
Thank you very much for former President Clinton's charity works, his mission to the needy.