In recent years

Nelson Mandela made his last public appearance at the final match of the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. He remained largely out of the spotlight in his later years, choosing to spend much of his time in his childhood community of Qunu, south of Johannesburg. He did, however, visit with U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, wife of President Barack Obama, during her trip to South Africa in 2011.

After suffering a lung infection in January 2011, Mandela was briefly hospitalized in Johannesburg to undergo surgery for a stomach ailment in early 2012. He was released after a few days, later returning to Qunu. Mandela would be hospitalized many times over the next several yearsin December 2012, March 2013 and June 2013for further testing and medical treatment relating to his recurrent lung infection. Following his June 2013 hospital visit, Mandelas wife, Graca Machel, canceled a scheduled appearance in London to remain at her husbands his side, and his daughter, Zenani Dlamini, Argentinas South African ambassador, flew back to South Africa to be with her father. Jacob Zuma, South Africas president, issued a statement in response to public concern over Mandelas March 2013 health scare, asking for support in the form of prayer We appeal to the people of South Africa and the world to pray for our beloved Madiba and his family and to keep them in their thoughts, Zuma said.