South Africa cheers Mandela's 93rd birthday with a song (AFP)

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Millions of South African schoolchildren sang happy birthday to Nelson Mandela as he turned 93 Monday, while politicians and ordinary citizens did charity work to support his call to do good.

For the third year, at the request of his charitable foundation, July 18 is observed as Mandela Day, recognised by the United Nations as a global call to volunteer for good causes for 67 minutes -- representing each year of Mandela's life in active politics.

The nation's 12.5 million schoolchildren sang "Happy Birthday" before starting class Monday, with television and radio stations urging the nation to join in the special rendition of the song, given an African twist by a local composer.

"He must relax and must not get sick. He must live long," said 10-year-old Kabelo Masemola, whose Johannesburg school suspended extra-curriculars for the week so the students can do volunteer work instead.

Tributes also came from world leaders, with British Prime Minister David Cameron saluting Mandela's legacy during his visit to South Africa on Monday.

"President Mandela is an inspiration to the world, and as we celebrate his birthday and look back at just how far South Africa has come, so I believe we can look forward with confidence to an even better future for South Africa and her people," Cameron said.

US President Barack Obama hailed Mandela as "a beacon for the global community, and for all who work for democracy, justice and reconciliation."

"Mandela's legacy exemplifies wisdom, strength and grace, and on the anniversary of his birth we salute the example of his life," he said.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who like Mandela has won the Nobel Peace Prize, said he had sent good wishes to Mandela and his wife Graca Machel, as the couple is also celebrating their 13th wedding anniversary.

"On behalf of The Elders, I sent him an email because it's also their wedding anniversary," Tutu told reporters.

Tutu and Machel both belong to The Elders, a group of global statesmen.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the world to observe Mandela's call to carry out volunteer work.

"Everybody remembers and, indeed, needs an inspirational figure who has played a signal role in their lives. Nelson Mandela has been that role model for countless people around the world," Ban said.

Mandela spent his birthday with his family at his childhood village Qunu in the Eastern Cape province. Pictures released by his foundation showed him gathered with his family around an enormous birthday cake.

Later in the day, President Jacob Zuma visited Mandela in Qunu and showed him a model of a bridge to be built nearby.

His grandson, chief Mandla Mandela said the family would give blankets to elderly people around his birthplace of Mvezo.

"We'll be ensuring that at least our elderly citizens are looked after and taken better care of, but we are also having kids from the school in Mvezo that will be cleaning the community because we want to ensure that we preserve our area," he told national broadcaster SABC.

Similar activities were underway around the country, as South Africans cleaned and painted schools, orphanages and clinics, while others donated food, clothes, books and toys to charity.

Increasingly frail with age, Mandela was last seen in public just before his 92nd birthday, when he and Machel made an appearance at the football World Cup final in Johannesburg.

As South Africa's first black president, Mandela is revered for having ushered in democracy and for his personal sacrifices in fighting the apartheid regime.

On his release in 1990, he led negotiations that paved the way to elections in 1994. He used his warmth, dignity and self-deprecating humour to help heal racial divisions and opened a process of reconciliation.

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In search of Mandela's lost Makarov pistol (AFP)

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Almost half a century ago, Nelson Mandela walked 20 paces from the farmhouse kitchen of his hideout north of Johannesburg and dug a pit where he buried a pistol.

The gun is now the target of a treasure hunt on what used to be Liliesleaf farm, now an affluent suburb where one home has already been demolished and another is up for auction in the search for Mandela's lost pistol.

The farm was used by African National Congress (ANC) activists in the 1960s. Mandela buried the gun there in 1962 when he was the commander-in-chief of the newly formed Umkhonto Wesizwe, the ANC armed wing.

Its existence came to the fore when Mandela visited his former hide-out in 2003.

"I and he were walking out of the main house when he suddenly stopped and said to me, 'Have you found my gun?' -- which completely threw me, because we knew nothing of this gun," said Nicholas Wolpe, the chief executive of Liliesleaf, now a museum.

"He gesticulated at a 45 degrees angle," said Wolpe.

His words sparked a frenzied search on the property. Parts of the garden were dug up and a neighbouring home was bought and demolished, without unearthing the semi-automatic Makarov pistol.

An expert contracted by the Trust has determined that another neighbour's home was one of three possible hiding places.

"Using the information we gave him, he identified three possible sites. Two are in our property," Wolpe told AFP. "So there is still hope."

The owner of the neighbouring home, apparently under pressure from prospective buyers, has put it up for auction, fuelling interest from local and international bidders who want to know what might be buried on the property.

"We are disappointed with the route (the owner) has taken. We have always maintained that we would like to buy the property once we can raise the funds," said Wolpe.

"He has denied us access to it unless we buy the house," he added.

Wolpe said the Trust currently had no money to buy it and won't participate in the auction on Thursday.

The Makarov pistol, estimated to be worth 22 million rand ($3.3 million), was given to Mandela by Colonel Biru Tadesse of the Ethiopian Riot Battalion in Addis Ababa when he was on a trip to seek military assistance.

It is believed to be the first gun of the armed struggle against apartheid, and it never discharged a shot, because Mandela was arrested before he could use it.

Information given to the Trust by journalist Allister Sparks, who interviewed Mandela in 1992, suggests that he buried other weapons, including 200 rounds of ammunition, a khaki uniform and other artefacts, said Wolpe.

Mandela told the journalist: "We dug a pit, deep enough so a plough could not uncover it, next to an oak tree."

Wolpe said the existence of the gun was not in question.

"...we do know that the gun exists. We do know that it was given to him. We do know that he buried it because he said 'we buried it.' The question is, who are the 'we'?" he said.

He said other people who were close to Mandela at the time had all died and there was no chance of going back to the increasingly frail 92-year-old leader for more details.

"This is not about glorifying weapons," said Wolpe.

"There is no monetary value to a historical artifact. It is about who the gun belonged to. This is not just any gun," said Wolpe.

"My major concern is that if it is there, then there could be a battle as to who owns it."

In the meantime, High Street Auction Company is bracing for a full house as the auction nears.

"The interest has been very high due to the legacy of the pistol. We have had interest both locally and internationally and have had numerous high-profile individuals make queries," said spokeswoman Tracy Purto.

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