Family was at 'Madiba's' bedside

Nelson Mandela's final moments were spent off a life support machine, with his wife, Graca Machel, and his former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela both at his bedside, witnesses have said.

The former president died at home in Houghton, Johannesburg, at 8.50pm Thursday, sending millions into mourning around the world.

Bantu Holomisa, a politician and close family friend, recalled how less than three hours earlier he found Mandela asleep and struggling to breathe but "still fighting".

Holomisa, 58, said he received a call on Thursday afternoon telling him to come urgently. "They said on the phone that Madiba [Mandela's clan name] doesn't look good," he said. "I immediately drove straight to his home and went to his bedroom."

The time was 6.35pm and Mandela's condition was clearly poor. "I could confirm this wasn't the Madiba we've seen since he went into hospital. He was sleeping with no life support machine. You could hear from his breathing that he was struggling.

"Winnie and Graca were at the bedside of Madiba. You could see the tension. I bowed to acknowledge them then gave myself a moment of silence with Madiba, said thank you to the doctors and then left at 6.50pm for another engagement."