Media braves rain at Mandela's hospital

2012-12-11 12:56

Pretoria - Rain did not deter news crews camping outside 1 Military Hospital, on the outskirts of Pretoria, where former president Nelson Mandela had spent a fourth night.

On Tuesday morning, vehicles of different media houses - local and international - lined the street adjacent to the hospital, at the Thaba Tshwane Military Base.

Journalists had erected large umbrellas and plastic sheets to shield cameras fixed on tripods. Military police stopped and inspected cars at the hospital's main entrance, before allowing them onto the premises.

Some cars had their trunks opened and searched. Cars leaving the hospital were not being stopped.

Earlier, vehicles belonging to news crews, including an outside broadcast vehicle, were turned back at the entrance. Several journalists milled outside, metres from the security checkpoint.

As Mandela's hospital stay entered its fourth day, the presidency revealed he was suffering from the recurrence of a previous lung infection.

- SAPA