Mandela remains critical, South African presidency says

Doctors doing their best to ensure his ’recovery, well-being and comfort’

Dozens of hand-made messages of support for former South African President Nelson Mandela are posted to the wall outside the Mediclinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa. South African. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Dozens of hand-made messages of support for former South African President Nelson Mandela are posted to the wall outside the Mediclinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa. South African. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Former South African president Nelson Mandela remains in a critical condition in hospital, the government said today.

A statement from President Jacob Zuma’s office said doctors were doing their best to ensure the “recovery, well-being and comfort” of the 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader, who was hospitalised more than two weeks ago with a lung infection.

Mr Mandela was surrounded by family and friends yesterday at the Pretoria hospital in which he is being treated, while outside a sombre public awaited news on his precarious state of health.

His ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and daughters Zindzi Mandela-Motlhajwa and Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, arrived at the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital to pay their respects, as did defence and military veterans minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa.

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Additional reporting Reuters