News / Africa
Mandela's condition has become critical
24 Jun 2013 at 08:51hrs | Views
Nelson Mandela's condition deteriorated to "critical" after more than two weeks in a hospital in the South African capital, Pretoria, President Jacob Zuma said.
Mandela, 94, was admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit on June 8 to receive treatment for a recurring lung infection. It's the fourth time he's been hospitalized since December.
"The doctors are doing everything possible to get his condition to improve," Zuma said in a statement on the Presidency's website yesterday. "He is in good hands."
Mandela became the nation's first black president after the African National Congress won the first all-race elections in 1994. Known by his clan name Madiba, Mandela spent 27 years in prison for opposing white minority rule under apartheid. In 1993, he won the Nobel Peace Prize with F.W. de Klerk, the last leader of South Africa in the apartheid era. Mandela stood down after five years and was succeeded by Thabo Mbeki.
Zuma visited Mandela yesterday with Cyril Ramaphosa, deputy president of the ANC, and were briefed by the medical team, the Presidency said in its statement. Zuma and Ramaphosa also met with Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, at the hospital, it said.
"President Zuma has appealed to the nation and the world to pray for Madiba, the family and the medical team that is attending to him during this difficult time," the Presidency said.
Ambulance Breakdown
Makaziwe Mandela, the former leader's daughter, told Atlanta-based CNN in an interview broadcast yesterday that he is "at peace with himself." She said she's praying "that the transition is smooth," according to CNN, which interviewed her before the Presidency's statement yesterday.
On June 22 the Presidency confirmed a CBS News report that an ambulance transporting Mandela to the hospital on June 8 broke down. In yesterday's statement it denied that he had had a cardiac arrest, as reported by CBS.
The ANC said in a statement yesterday it's concerned by Mandela's deteriorating condition and is "calling upon all of us to keep President Mandela, his family and his medical team in our thoughts and prayers during this trying time."
Mandela, 94, was admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit on June 8 to receive treatment for a recurring lung infection. It's the fourth time he's been hospitalized since December.
"The doctors are doing everything possible to get his condition to improve," Zuma said in a statement on the Presidency's website yesterday. "He is in good hands."
Mandela became the nation's first black president after the African National Congress won the first all-race elections in 1994. Known by his clan name Madiba, Mandela spent 27 years in prison for opposing white minority rule under apartheid. In 1993, he won the Nobel Peace Prize with F.W. de Klerk, the last leader of South Africa in the apartheid era. Mandela stood down after five years and was succeeded by Thabo Mbeki.
"President Zuma has appealed to the nation and the world to pray for Madiba, the family and the medical team that is attending to him during this difficult time," the Presidency said.
Ambulance Breakdown
Makaziwe Mandela, the former leader's daughter, told Atlanta-based CNN in an interview broadcast yesterday that he is "at peace with himself." She said she's praying "that the transition is smooth," according to CNN, which interviewed her before the Presidency's statement yesterday.
On June 22 the Presidency confirmed a CBS News report that an ambulance transporting Mandela to the hospital on June 8 broke down. In yesterday's statement it denied that he had had a cardiac arrest, as reported by CBS.
The ANC said in a statement yesterday it's concerned by Mandela's deteriorating condition and is "calling upon all of us to keep President Mandela, his family and his medical team in our thoughts and prayers during this trying time."
Source - Bloomberg
