Obama's tribute to ailing Mandela

2013-06-30 50

U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle arrive for a dinner hosted by South African counterpart Jacob Zuma.

Obama's visit has been largely overshadowed by concerns over the condition of Nelson Mandela.

Obama took the opportunity to pay another tribute to the former president revered as the father of the rainbow nation.

He quoted from William Ernest Henley's poem, 'Invictus', which Mandela said inspired him during his years in jail.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING:

"'It matters not how straight the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.' And so I propose a toast: to a man who has always been a master of his fate, who taught us that we could be the master of ours; to a proud nation and south Africa's unconquerable soul; and to President Zuma and Madam Zuma for their outstanding leadership in carrying on the great traditions of the South African struggle. Pula.