Deluge of gifts for birthday boy Mandela

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2007

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — Former British prime minister Tony Blair is one of hundreds of well wishers across the globe who have sent gifts to anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela for his 89th birthday on Wednesday.

"We have received a deluge of gifts and messages, from Blair and hundreds of other high profile and ordinary people across the world," said Boniswa Qabaka-Nyeti, a spokeswoman at the flagship Nelson Mandela Foundation.

"We received a remarkable gift, a large yellow and black bowl made of pottery from Tony Blair. It is very beautiful and we adore it."

Blair met Mandela in his office in Johannesburg on May 31 during the then British premier's farewell tour of Africa.

The chief executive officer of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC),...