Johannesburg - Doctors treating Nelson Mandela said he
was in a "permanent vegetative state" and advised his family to turn
off his life support machine, according to court documents dated 26 June,
obtained by AFP Thursday.
"He is in a permanent vegetative state and is
assisted in breathing by a life support machine," said a legal filing
related to a family dispute over reburying the remains of three of Mandela's
children.
"The Mandela family have been advised by the medical
practitioners that his life support machine should be switched off.
"Rather than prolonging his suffering, the Mandela
family is exploring this option as a very real probability."
The "Certificate of Urgency" document was
obtained from a lawyer representing Mandela family members, who had
successfully sought a court order to return the disputed children's remains to
the Madiba's childhood home, after a grandson had them moved to his own
village.
The document was presented to the Eastern Cape High Court
as President Jacob Zuma reported that Mandela's health had faltered and
cancelled a trip to Mozambique.
The next day Zuma reported that Mandela's condition had
"improved during the course of the night".
"He is much better today than he was when I saw him
last night. The medical team continues to do a sterling job," Zuma said in
a statement dated 27 June.
Since then the government has said Mandela's condition
remains "critical but stable", but has provided few details, citing
patient confidentiality.
Lawyers for Mandela's relatives, family members
themselves and government officials were not immediately available for comment.