Nelson Mandela was seriously ill in hospital last night, prompting South African president Jacob Zuma to call on the nation to prepare itself for the worst.
The 94-year-old former president was struck down with a recurring lung infection on Wednesday night. Mr. Zuma said South Africans should be realistic about the prognosis because of Mr. Mandela’s age. It is the fourth time in just over two years that the increasingly frail Mr. Mandela has been admitted to hospital.
Mr. Zuma said Mr. Mandela was doing ‘very well’ and said he was hoping to visit him in hospital as soon as possible.
Fondly referring to the Nobel Peace Prize laureate by his clan name, he said: ‘We appeal to the people of South Africa and the world to pray for our beloved Madiba and his family and to keep them in their thoughts.
‘We have full confidence in the medical team and know that they will do everything possible to ensure recovery.’
The governing African National Congress called for prayers for Mr. Mandela, as did US President Barack Obama.
Mr. Zuma’s office said Mr. Mandela was conscious and ‘responding positively’ to treatment but did not reveal where he is being treated.
Spokesman Mac Maharaj later added: ‘I think we need to be clear that the doctors are attending to Madiba on a continuous basis. They prefer to act on the side of caution, and the moment they felt there was a recurrence of the lung infection, they felt that it warranted immediate hospitalisation given his age and given his history.’
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