Mandela's only surviving son dies of AIDS

South African former president Nelson Mandela told reporters here Thursday that his eldest son Makgatho died of AIDS at the age of 54.

Surrounded by family members at his residence in Johannesburg, Mandela said there was no purpose in hiding the illness from which Makgatho had been suffering.

He said that it is best for a family to be open about suffering from terminal diseases rather than let rumors spread like wild fire.

With his wife Graca Machel and members of his family by his side, Mandela said announcing such things maintained one's dignity and integrity.

Still able to be cheerful in spite of the family loss, Mandela cautioned that news spread in medical circles. "Doctors have assistants. They are going to whisper ... and it will spread like wild fire."

Mandela said he started his campaign more than three years ago to encourage people not to hide HIV/AIDS status in order to make people understand HIV was an ordinary thing.

"That is why I have announced that my son died from AIDS," he said, adding that being open about HIV/AIDS was the only way to stop people "regarding it as an extraordinary thing for which people go to hell and not to heaven."

Recalling when he suffered from tuberculosis in prison, and later prostrate cancer, he said it had been important to be open about his condition.

In the first instance, Mandela said he had gathered his fellow inmates to tell them about his tuberculosis condition and in the second he had announced to the press that he had prostrate cancer.

Makgatho Mandela, 54, died in a Johannesburg clinic on Thursday.He was admitted to the Linksfield hospital late in November.

Makgatho Mandela was part of Standard Bank's legal team and worked as a consultant for the group.

He was Mandela's eldest child and only surviving son from his first marriage to Evelyn Ntoko Mase who died some time ago.

Last year Makgatho Mandela's wife Zondi died of pneumonia. Makgatho is survived by four sons, Mandla, from his first marriage,and Ndaba, 21, Mbuso, 13, and Andile, 11, from his marriage to Zondi.

As a response to the announcement by Mandela, Independent Democrats (ID) leader Patricia de Lille commended him for his courage in announcing that he had lost his son, Makgatho, to AIDS earlier in the day.

"His courage shows his dire commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS in this country and willingness to save many more lives currently affected by this pandemic," said De Lille.

Last year De Lille unveiled her party's "Know Your Status" drive by publicly taking an HIV test.

"The ID joins the Mandela family and extends its support and comfort in this hour of mourning," she said.

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has also praised Mandela for his courage.

In May last year, IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who has spoken out against the government's slow response to the pandemic -- announced that his son had been a victim of the pandemic.

"We praise Dr Nelson Mandela for taking this courageous step ofdisclosing the cause of his son's death," said the party's secretary-general Musa Zondi.

With a total population of 45 million, South Africa have lost thousands of lives to the killer disease. It is estimated that 5 million people are infected.