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 has 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 in an interview with al-Jazeera 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."

As his home town of Qunu in the Eastern Cape prepared for a private party with about 500 guests on Saturday, organisations started sending good wishes to the anti-apartheid icon.

"Madiba has had a unique ability to unify and inspire the people of South Africa, the continent and the whole world," Congress of South African Trade Unions spokesperson Patrick Craven said.

The trade union movement said it has inaugurated an award for outstanding leadership and that Mandela will be the first recipient.

"You have been a constant inspiration to us from the days of the Congress of the People, through the armed struggle, the dark days in prison and exile, the mass uprisings of the 1980s, to the period of negotiations, and finally the days of liberation and reconstruction," said Craven.

South African 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 is 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.

"Equally important has been his capacity to inspire people to follow his lead. We rejoice in his leadership and wish him fulfilment and happiness in the years ahead," the Democratic Alliance leader said.

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies announced the publication of a commemorative magazine to celebrate Mandela's birthday.

"The illustrated publication comprises the personal reminiscences of over thirty prominent Jewish South Africans who have been associated with Mr Mandela in the course of his career. They include Helen Suzman, judges Arthur Chaskalson and Albie Sachs, Ali Bacher, Tony Leon, Meyer Kahn and Raymond Ackerman," it said in a statement.

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 hope to bring about a South Africa free from crime, so that all South Africans can truly enjoy the fruits of freedom and democracy," he said.

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. -- Sapa