Mandela's fading presence worries South Africa. Via Chron

JOHANNESBURG — As South Africa's governing party moves closer to picking its next leader, it will do so without the man widely viewed as the country's moral compass.

Nelson Mandela, who remains hospitalized with a lung infection, led the African National Congress political party to victory in the nation's first truly democratic election in 1994 through a principled show of magnanimity toward the country's racist former rulers, despite spending nearly three decades in prison.

Today, his party appears grounded by corruption allegations, as current President Jacob Zuma has faced rape charges and questions about enriching himself through his public office.

The more Mandela fades, the more some in South Africa worry the ANC is ceding the higher moral ground it once held.

"We know that even though the dream of a just, nonracial and prospering democracy is temporarily in eclipse — being throttled by the actions (or lack of it) of a generation of leaders that seems to have largely lost its moral compass," a recent letter that religious leaders sent to Zuma reads. "The people of South Africa are capable of rising to reclaim their future."

Mandela, 94, was admitted Saturday to 1 Military Hospital near South Africa's capital, Pretoria, for tests. Government officials later said he was suffering from a chronic lung infection. He had an acute respiratory infection in January 2011 and the chaos surrounding Mandela's stay at a public hospital saw the South African military take charge of his care and the government control the information about his health.

Source: Chron