Nelson Mandela has lung infection
2012-12-11 11:25
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Journalists gathered outside Nelson Mandela's hospital as the 94-year-old icon undergoes testing during his third day at the facility. Watch.
Pretoria - Former president Nelson Mandela is suffering from
a lung infection, the presidency said on Tuesday.
"Doctors have concluded the tests, and these have
revealed a recurrence of a previous lung infection, for which Madiba is
receiving appropriate treatment and he is responding to the treatment,"
the presidency said.
"President [Jacob] Zuma thanks the public for
continuous support to former president Mandela and his family at this
time."
Fourth day in hospital
Mandela's hospital stay entered its fourth day on Tuesday,
with his wife, Graca Machel, telling a broadcaster it pained her to see him
lose his "sparkle".
She told eNCA it was painful for her to see her husband's
health deteriorate.
"To see him ageing... it pains you. You understand and
you know it has to happen... The spirit and the sparkle, you see that somehow
it's fading," she said in an interview on Monday.
Journalists continued camping outside 1 Military Hospital on
the outskirts of Pretoria on Tuesday morning. Soldiers were stopping and
searching cars at the main entrance. News crews, including an outside broadcast
vehicle, were turned back at the entrance. Several journalists waited metres
from the security checkpoint.
On Monday, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said
Mandela was "doing very, very well" while undergoing unspecified
medical tests.
She offered the first government confirmation that Mandela,
who had received military medical care since 2011, was at that hospital.
Tests
On Monday the presidency said Mandela was fine and was due
for further tests.
On Saturday, Zuma's office announced Mandela had been
admitted to a Pretoria hospital for medical tests and care that was
"consistent for his age".
Zuma visited Mandela on Sunday morning at the hospital and
found the former leader "comfortable and in good care", presidential
spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a statement.
The hospital stay was being watched by media around the
world, including the LA Times, the Telegraph, Hindustan Times, and Zimbabwe
Independent.
The Washington Post included a CBS newsclip in which their
reporter described him as having been "physically robust" but
"mentally detached" at his 94th birthday celebration which they
attended.
The Brisbane Times posted a video package of footage of him
beaming with fellow African National Congress officials four years ago.
In February, Mandela spent a night in a hospital for a minor
diagnostic surgery to determine the cause of an abdominal complaint. In January
2011 Mandela was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital for what officials
initially described as tests, but what turned out to be an acute respiratory
infection.
Mandela has had other health problems. He contracted
tuberculosis during his years in prison and had surgery for an enlarged
prostate gland in 1985. In 2001, Mandela underwent seven weeks of radiation
therapy for prostate cancer.
- SAPA
