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Birthday wishes for Nelson Mandela started trickling in on Thursday, a day before South Africa's most adored politician celebrates his 90th in his Eastern Cape home town.
The Nobel peace laureate's birthday celebrations started three weeks ago with a star-studded London concert in support of his 46664 campaign.
Since then, a Mandela coin and stamp have been launched, the publishing of a Mandela comic book has been announced and a campaign to sell gold, platinum and silver 46664 wrist bangles has taken off.
Also, the Nelson Mandela Foundation announced it would launch a 240-page coffee-table book commemorating the first post-apartheid president's contribution to history.
His wife of 10 years, Graca Machel, said ahead of his birthday: "The world needs symbols. The world needs to highlight the best values we can find in certain human beings... Mandela is one of those. So we deliberately minimise his weaknesses," she told Al Jazeera.
As his home town of Qunu in the Eastern Cape prepared for a private party with around 500 guests on Saturday, people started sending good wishes to the anti-apartheid icon.
Siphiwe Nzimande, the CEO of Business Against Crime South Africa, said Mandela was instrumental in establishing the organisation.
"Happy Birthday, Madiba may you enjoy many more years of prosperity. We at BACSA hope to bring about a South Africa free from crime, so that all South Africans can truly enjoy the fruits of freedom and democracy."
Zimbabwe's ambassador to South Africa, Simon Khaya Moyo, said he hoped his birthday would be a memorable occasion.
"The people of Zimbabwe envy your humility, simplicity and principled position against all forms of double standards, racism and injustice."
The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) said it had inaugurated an award for outstanding leadership and that Mandela would be the first recipient.
"Madiba has had a unique ability to unify and inspire the people of South Africa, the continent and the whole world," spokesman Patrick Craven said.
SA Tourism chief executive Moeketsi Mosola thanked Mandela for leading an exemplary life.
"South African Tourism thanks you for helping to put South Africa on the map as a beacon of hope, dignity and reconciliation for the world.
"We thank you, too, for inspiring people the world over to come and visit our country, to share our excitement in the political, natural and, above, all, profoundly human miracle that is South Africa."
Opposition leader Helen Zille said Mandela was an inspiration to many.
"He demonstrated the capacity to see beyond the present situation, with its pressures and competing vested interests, and take bold decisions in the interests of future generations," the Democratic Alliance leader said.
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies announced the publication of a commemorative magazine to celebrate Mandela's birthday.
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