(FILES) This picture taken on July 18, 2003 shows Nelson Mandela, the former South Africa President, saluting the South African military health service band that came to play a specially composed march and happy birthday on his 85th birthday in Johannesburg. South Africa's ailing first black president Nelson Mandela is still teaching life lessons and remains a fighter even as he approaches death, his daughter said llate on December 3, 2013. "Tata (father) is still with us, very strong... very courageous, even, (for) lack of a better word, on his death bed. I think he's still teaching us lessons," Mandela's oldest surviving child, Makaziwe Mandela, told public broadcaster SABC. AFP PHOTO/ ALEXANDER JOE

This picture taken on June 28, 2013 shows a portrait of former South African President Nelson Mandela with flowers and balloons displayed in a street outside Union Buildings in Pretoria. A gravely ill Mandela showed tentative signs of improvement Thursday as South Africa-bound US President Barack Obama led a chorus of support for the "hero for the world". South African President Jacob Zuma, who had abruptly cancelled a trip abroad to be near the 94-year-old anti-apartheid icon, reported he "remains critical but is now stable". AFP PHOTO / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN

Former South African president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela wears a traditional mortar board while receiving two honourary doctorates at the Sydney University, 04 September 2000. Mandela received a Doctor of Law from both the University of Sydney and the University of Technology, and will continue on his week-long tour of Australia, visiting Canberra and Melbourne later this week. AFP PHOTO - POOL /DAVID GRAY

Adelaide Tambo, the widow of Oliver Tambo (up), and South African former President Nelson Mandela attend the unveiling of the O.R Tambo International Airport on October 27, 2006 in Johannesburg. Mandela in 1952 opened the first black law practice in Johannesburg with Oliver Tambo. AFP PHOTO / FATI MOALUSI

A photo taken on August 25, 2010 shows former South Africa's President Nelson Mandela posing with a copy of the US edition of his book "Conversations with Myself" in this handout photograph released by the Nelson Mandela Foundation on October 11, 2010. AFP PHOTO / NELSON MANDELA FOUNDATION PHOTO / Debbie Yazbek MANDATORY CREDIT - NO SALES - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE .

African National Congress (ANC) leader Nelson Mandela visits a traditional hut during electoral campaign tour, 05 March 1994 in Maekwezen. South Africans will vote 27 April 1994 in the country's first democratic and multiracial general elections. AFP PHOTO / WALTER DHLADHLA

Nelson Mandela addresses his supporters to accept victory in the historic all-race elections in Johannesburg, May 2, 1994. Mandela and the African National Congress appear to have won the majority of the country's votes. (AP Photo/John Parkin)

(FILES) -- A file photo taken in 1957 shows South African anti-apartheid leader and African National Congress (ANC) member Nelson Mandela posing with his wife Winnie during their wedding. AFP PHOTO

Visitors observe a sculpture depicting former president Nelson Mandela, by artist Marco Cianfanelli, near Howick, South Africa, where Mandela was arrested in 1962 and subsequently jailed for 27 years, Saturday, June 29, 2013. Mandela remains in critical condition in a Pretoria. hospital just weeks before his 95th birthday. (AP Photo)

South African President Nelson Mandela receives a cricket bat from the South African Cricket captain, Hansie Cronje, during the lunch break on the third day of the Second Test between South Africa and India at Newlands on January 4, 1997. AFP PHOTO / POOL - ADIL BRADLOW

Former South African President Nelson Mandela holds the Jules Rimet World cup beside Capetown Archbishop Desmond Tutu on May 15, 2004 at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich. AFP PHOTO FRANCK FIFE

African National Congress (ANC) supporters wait for Nelson Mandela on a billboard in a township just outside Durban before for a pre-election rally in Natal/KwaZulu province. South Africa held its first non-racial elections in 1994, ending more than three centuries of white domination and 46 years of apartheid rule. AFP PHOTO / ALEXANDER JOE

Brazilian football legend, Pele (R) kisses former South African President, Nelson Mandela, 17 July 2007 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Pele is South Africa to attend the "90 Minutes for Mandela" match, to be played at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on 18 July. The match is part of festivities honouring Mandela, who turns 89 on 18 July. AFP PHOTO / Chris Ricco / backpagepix / FIFA Media - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Nelson Mandela, South Africa' s former President and a former boxer, wishes Philip Ndou good luck in his upcoming BWC lightweight divison fight against the current world champion, Floyd Mayweather in Johannesburg, 07 October 2003. The fight will be held in the United States 01 November. AFP PHOTO /ALEXANDER JOE

Anti-apartheid leader and African National Congress (ANC) member Nelson Mandela raises clenched fist, arriving to address mass rally, a few days after his release from jail, 25 February 1990, in the conservative Afrikaaner town of Bloemfontein, where ANC was formed 75 years ago. AFP PHOTO / TREVOR SAMSON

(FILES) -- A file photo taken on March 15, 1994 shows the President of the African National Congress (ANC) Nelson Mandela raising a clenched fist to supporters upon his arrival for an election rally ahead of the April 27 general elections in Mmabatho. South Africans will vote 27 April 1994 in the country's first democratic and multiracial general elections. AFP PHOTO / WALTER DHLADHLA

FILE - In this July 15, 2013 file photo, South African artist John Adams works on a giant acrylic-on-canvas painting of Nelson Mandela in the driveway of his house in a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. Adams said he felt driven to create the painting as thanks to Mandela for creating educational opportunities that enabled him to become an artist, and plans to auction the painting, the proceeds of which will fund children's charities. On Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, Mandela died at the age of 95. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

FILE - In this July 24, 2007, file photo, former South African President Nelson Mandela, who turned 89 years old on July 18, laughs while celebrating his birthday with children at the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund in Johannesburg. South Africa's president says, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, that Mandela has died. He was 95. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell, File), APTOPIX

File photo of African National Congress (ANC) member Nelson Mandela and his then-wife Winnie at their wedding in 1957. This copy was taken from the family album the original was by Alf Khumalo.

The 46664 Concert. Nelson Mandela at 90 - The Celebration. Concert to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday, Hyde Park, London, UK. June 27, 2008. Edmond Terakopian / eyevine