Obama meets privately with Mandela family

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — US President Barack Obama met privately Saturday with the family of Nelson Mandela.

The meeting was held in Johannesburg at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, which is part of the former South African president’s foundation.

It lasted for about a half hour, enough time for a small crowd to gather outside in time for Obama’s departure.

The White House didn’t say which Mandela family members the Obamas met with.

The president and first lady will not meet with the ailing 94-year-old Mandela, who is hospitalized with a lung infection. The White House says that decision was made in accordance with the wishes of Mandela’s family.

Earlier Saturday, Obama referred to Mandela by his clan name as he praised South Africa’s historic integration from white racist rule as a shining beacon for the world.

“The struggle here against apartheid for freedom, Madiba’s moral courage, this country’s historic transition to a free and democratic nation has been a personal inspiration to me, it has been an inspiration to the world,” Obama said.

“The outpouring of love that we’ve seen in recent days shows that the triumph of Nelson Mandela and this nation speaks to something very deep in the human spirit, the yearning for justice and dignity that transcends boundaries of race and class and faith and country,” Obama said. “That’s what Nelson Mandela represents, that’s what South African at its best represents to the world, and that’s what brings me back here.”

Obama also said he wants to boost trade with Africa and plans to renegotiate an African trade pact to improve it for American businesses. He said he welcomes competition from other nations who have been aggressive in pursuing commercial opportunities in Africa, including China.

“I don’t feel threatened by it. I think it’s a good thing,” he said. He added: “Our only advice is make sure it’s a good deal for Africa.” He said that includes making sure foreign investment employs Africans and doesn’t tolerate corruption or take its natural resources without compensation for Africans.

Obama also is paying tribute to South Africa’s fight against apartheid by visiting the Soweto area Saturday afternoon for a town hall with students at the University of Johannesburg. At least 176 young people were killed in Soweto township 27 years ago this month during a youth protest against the apartheid regime’s ban against teaching local Bantu languages. The Soweto Uprising catalyzed international support against apartheid, and June is now recognized as Youth Month in South Africa.

The university plans to bestow an honorary law degree on the U.S. president.

Protesters under police watch demonstrated outside the university against Obama’s record on surveillance and foreign policy. Demonstrators from a range of trade unions and civil society groups chanted, “Away with intelligence, away,” holding posters depicting Obama with an Adolf Hitler moustache.

“People died in Libya. People are still dying in Syria,” said 54-year-old Ramasimong Tsokolibane. “In Egypt, in Afghanistan in Pakistan drones are still killing people. So that’s why we are calling him a Hitler. He’s a killer.”

Obama has been trying to inspire the continent’s youth to become civically active and part of a new democratically minded generation. Obama hosted young leaders from more than 40 African countries at the White House in 2010 and challenged them to bring change to their countries by standing up for freedom, openness and peaceful disagreement.

Obama wraps up his South Africa stay Sunday, when he plans to give a sweeping speech on U.S.-Africa policy at the University of Cape Town and take his family to Robben Island to tour the prison where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years behind bars.

Obama has visited the island before, but said it’s a particular privilege to bring his daughters back to learn its lessons.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.