Nelson Mandela Dies at 95

Nelson Mandela has died at his home in Johannesburg, South Africa aged 95. The anti-apartheid icon died at 12:50pm EST surrounded by close family.

Mandela's death came approximately five months after he was admitted to hospital with a lung infection. Despite being allowed to return home three months ago, South Africa's first black president has not been able to move from a bedroom described as being a 'virtual 24 hour intensive care unit' and has needed a ventilator to breath

Rumors of Mr Mandela's increasing discomfort started socializing in the early afternoon Wednesday as increasing numbers of Mandela family members arrived at the former president's large Johannesburg home.

South Africa's president Jacob Zuma announced the long-expected death in a special television broadcast last night. Mr Zuma said: 'Our nation has lost its greatest son.'

'What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves.