Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton on Thursday teamed up to raise funds for African children with heart problems by offering a chance of tea with the struggle hero — up for auction on eBay.
From November 6, bidders on the auction website can put in their offers for an afternoon with Mandela, who will be accompanied by Albertina Sisulu, the widow of Mandela's mentor and fellow struggle stalwart Walter Sisulu.
Mandela and Clinton made the announcement while visiting a heart centre at a hospital north of Johannesburg where children with cardiac problems from all over the continent were being treated.
"I was informed that US golfer Mr Tiger Woods recently fetched more than 1.3 million dollars for a round of golf," said Lungi Sisulu, the chairman of the centre which carries the name of his late father, Walter.
"I am convinced that tea with Mr Mandela and my mother can exceed this target," Sisulu was quoted by the local SAPA news agency as saying.
Called the "Priceless Moments" campaign, Mandela and Clinton hope to raise some 80 million rand (11 million dollars, 8.7 million euros) for the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa.
Also up for grabs will be a chance to play soccer with South African star Mark Fish, spend time with Olympic gold medallist swimmer Ryk Neethling, bungee jump with cricketer Shaun Pollock and brainstorm with foremost businessmen Whitey Basson and Patrice Motsepe.
Heart operations, Mandela and Clinton were told, cost around 100,000 rand each.
"Madiba, for your 88th birthday Hillary and I will each give you a child to make hope and history rhyme," Clinton then told Mandela, calling him by his Xhosa clan name.
The former South African president turns 88 on Tuesday and is expected to spend the day with his family, his spokeswoman Zelda la Grange said.
