Mandela Misses Parliament Opening

At 87, some things are more pressing than politics. So Nelson Mandela offered his regrets yesterday, saying he could not attend the opening of South Africa's parliament because it would mean interrupting a new exercise regime.

The anti-apartheid icon has appeared increasingly frail in recent years, needing a walking stick or the help of an aide to keep him steady. But a new workout he discovered while on a family holiday in Mauritius has enabled him to put away his cane, his office revealed.

"Mr Mandela was introduced to a fitness training programme which resulted in him being able to walk without the use of a cane, or human assistance," a statement from his office said.

"The programme requires him to exercise daily without interruption, and for this reason he decided to remain in Johannesburg and not to travel to Cape Town for the opening of parliament."

Precise details of the programme have not been revealed, but Mr Mandela put his new skills on display earlier this week when he walked into a room without a cane to greet a delegation of African students, moving slowly while holding his hands in the air for balance.

Mr Mandela, who usually appears at the opening of parliament, sent his apologies to the president, Thabo Mbeki, saying he looked forward to watching the event on television.

Among those who went to the opening ceremony were his wife Graca Machel and the former deputy president Jacob Zuma, who was sacked by Mr Mbeki last year after being implicated in a corruption scandal.

South Africa's first black president, who spent 27 years in prison for his struggle against apartheid, retired from public life two years ago but continues to work for the charitable causes espoused by the foundation that bears his name.

In his youth he trained as a heavyweight boxer - there is a bronze statuette of him as a boxer in his office - to keep fit and learn self discipline.