President Obama has landed in South Africa one of the stops on his three-country tour of Africa. Obama will spend the weekend in South Africa visiting Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town. Additionally, he is scheduled to visit Robben Island, where Mandela spent 18 of the 27 an apartheid prison.

Greeting Obama in South Africa were over 1,000 trade unionists, Muslim activists and South African Communist Party members who protested outside of the U.S. Embassy in the capital of Pretoria. The protests were against current U.S. foreign policy as "arrogant and oppressive.” Muslim activists leader, Imam Sayeed Mohammed stated, "We hope that Mandela feels better and that Obama can learn from him." South Africans have been extremely critical of Obama’s use of drones and his lack of action in closing Guantanamo Bay. 

While in the midst of the Presidential visit, former South African President Nelson Mandela remains in the hospital in Pretoria. This is his 21st day in the hospital. His ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela stated that Mandela has made "a great improvement" in the last few days, but was "still unwell.

ALSO SEE: Mandela's Health Spurs Conversation

Prior to arriving in South Africa, Obama was in Senegal.  When boarding Air Force One this morning he stated, "I think the main message we'll want to deliver is not directly to him, but to his family - is simply profound gratitude for his leadership all these years, and that the thoughts and prayers of the American people are with him, his family and his country."