Frail Nelson Mandela turns 94

South Africa's Nelson Mandela turns 94 today (Tuesday), but he is unlikely to attend a host of celebrations as the frail anti-apartheid icon has increasingly vanished from the public eye. He once partied lavishly with the likes of American talk-show host Oprah Winfrey and other international celebrities, but for the past four years Mandela has blown out the candles alone with his family. This year the revered statesman, who has been hospitalised twice in as many years, will be at his rural childhood home in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape province, where he has moved "for good" from the city. These days his foundation and other organisations use his life example to encourage others to do good. In 2009 the United Nations declared July 18 International Mandela Day, aimed to get people all over the world to volunteer for good causes. The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, the charitable organisation which he founded after he stepped down from office, calls on people to devote 67 minutes of their time to charity work. The number 67 represents each year of Mandela's life in active politics.Andrew Mlangeni, an anti-apartheid activist who was imprisoned with him on Robben Island, said striving to emulate his values would be the best tribute. "Living up to the ideals that he sacrificed so much for would be the greatest gift South Africans today could give Mandela," the 86-year-old told AFP."I wish him long life and good health. His presence is a blessing to all us South Africans and the world," he added.