<p>Despite earlier intimations by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) that Mandela, the country's first democratically elected president, would be present, it was confirmed that the frail wheelchair-bound leader would not be at the celebrations where his family and friends will gather.<br /><br />Mandela's release after 27 years of incarceration by the apartheid government from the Groot Drakenstein Prison, formerly named Victor Verster, outside Paarl in the Western Cape Province, led to mass euphoria and sparked the start of freedom for all South Africans after decades of a white-minority government.<br /><br />Th leader, however, would attend the Parliament. The Parliament's theme this year is "Celebrate the Legacy of Mandela - Contribute to Nation Building".<br /><br />"Throughout the year, the letter and spirit of this theme will permeate the business of Parliament," said National assembly speaker Max Sisulu.</p>
<p>Despite earlier intimations by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) that Mandela, the country's first democratically elected president, would be present, it was confirmed that the frail wheelchair-bound leader would not be at the celebrations where his family and friends will gather.<br /><br />Mandela's release after 27 years of incarceration by the apartheid government from the Groot Drakenstein Prison, formerly named Victor Verster, outside Paarl in the Western Cape Province, led to mass euphoria and sparked the start of freedom for all South Africans after decades of a white-minority government.<br /><br />Th leader, however, would attend the Parliament. The Parliament's theme this year is "Celebrate the Legacy of Mandela - Contribute to Nation Building".<br /><br />"Throughout the year, the letter and spirit of this theme will permeate the business of Parliament," said National assembly speaker Max Sisulu.</p>