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Nelson Mandela Still in Critical Condition Nelson Mandela Still in Critical Condition
(about 1 hour later)
JOHANNESBURG — President Jacob Zuma said on Monday that Nelson Mandela remained in critical condition in a hospital in Pretoria after more than two weeks of treatment for a lung infection.JOHANNESBURG — President Jacob Zuma said on Monday that Nelson Mandela remained in critical condition in a hospital in Pretoria after more than two weeks of treatment for a lung infection.
“Doctors are doing everything possible to ensure his well-being and comfort,” Mr. Zuma said at a news conference in Johannesburg, according to news reports, but he gave few details about Mr. Mandela’s condition, saying he had no further information. “Doctors are doing everything possible to ensure his well-being and comfort,” Mr. Zuma told a news conference in Johannesburg, but he gave few details about Mr. Mandela’s condition, saying he had no further information.
Mr. Zuma spoke as South Africans and admirers around the world awaited word on Mr. Mandela’s condition. Mr. Zuma spoke as South Africans and admirers around the world awaited word on the condition of Mr. Mandela, the iconic leader who played a towering role in his country’s transition from white minority rule under the system of apartheid to multiracial democracy in 1994.
President Zuma said that he and Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president of the governing African National Congress, visited Mr. Mandela late on Sunday night.President Zuma said that he and Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president of the governing African National Congress, visited Mr. Mandela late on Sunday night.
“Given the hour, he was already asleep. We saw him, looked at him and then we had a bit of a discussion with the doctors and his wife,” Mr. Zuma said, according to Reuters. “I don’t think I’m a position to give further details. I’m not a doctor.” “Given the hour, he was already asleep. We were there, looked at him, saw him and then we had a bit of a discussion with the doctors and his wife,” Mr. Zuma said. “I don’t think I’m in a position to give further details. I’m not a doctor.”
Doctors told President Zuma on Sunday evening that Mr. Mandela’s health “had become critical over the past 24 hours,” according to an earlier statement from the presidency.Doctors told President Zuma on Sunday evening that Mr. Mandela’s health “had become critical over the past 24 hours,” according to an earlier statement from the presidency.
In the statement Sunday, Mr. Zuma said that doctors were doing “everything possible to get his condition to improve and are ensuring that Madiba is well-looked after and is comfortable.” Madiba is Mr. Mandela’s clan name.In the statement Sunday, Mr. Zuma said that doctors were doing “everything possible to get his condition to improve and are ensuring that Madiba is well-looked after and is comfortable.” Madiba is Mr. Mandela’s clan name.
The language used in the statement was the strongest yet concerning the health of Mr. Mandela, whose progress has been a matter of international concern since he was rushed to the hospital in the early hours of June 8.The language used in the statement was the strongest yet concerning the health of Mr. Mandela, whose progress has been a matter of international concern since he was rushed to the hospital in the early hours of June 8.
On Saturday, the president, seeking to play down news reports about Mr. Mandela’s deteriorating health, described his condition as “serious but stable.”On Saturday, the president, seeking to play down news reports about Mr. Mandela’s deteriorating health, described his condition as “serious but stable.”
Mr. Mandela, who was freed by the apartheid government in 1990 after 27 years of imprisonment, became South Africa’s first black president after the country’s first all-race elections in 1994. He retired from public life in 2004.Mr. Mandela, who was freed by the apartheid government in 1990 after 27 years of imprisonment, became South Africa’s first black president after the country’s first all-race elections in 1994. He retired from public life in 2004.
He has not been seen in public since the World Cup soccer final in South Africa in July 2010 and has been hospitalized four times since December, mostly for the pulmonary condition that has plagued him for years.He has not been seen in public since the World Cup soccer final in South Africa in July 2010 and has been hospitalized four times since December, mostly for the pulmonary condition that has plagued him for years.
The South African government faced criticism over the weekend after it confirmed reports that the ambulance carrying Mr. Mandela to the hospital on June 8 had broken down, leaving him waiting on the roadside for 40 minutes until a replacement vehicle arrived. The South African government faced criticism over the weekend after it confirmed reports that the military ambulance carrying Mr. Mandela to the hospital on June 8 had broken down, leaving him waiting on the roadside for 40 minutes until a replacement vehicle arrived.
Mr. Zuma said he had been assured by doctors that “all care” had been taken to ensure that Mr. Mandela’s condition was not compromised during that time. Mr. Zuma said he had been assured by doctors that “all care” had been taken to ensure that Mr. Mandela’s condition was not compromised during that time. Media reports that Mr. Mandela had suffered a cardiac arrest on that same night contained “no truth,” he added.
“There were seven doctors in the convoy who were in full control of the situation throughout the period. He had expert medical care,” he said.“There were seven doctors in the convoy who were in full control of the situation throughout the period. He had expert medical care,” he said.
Media reports stating that Mr. Mandela had suffered a cardiac arrest on that same night contained “no truth,” he added. Mac Maharaj, Mr. Zuma’s spokesman, denied reports by CBS News that Mr. Mandela waited 40 minutes for a replacement ambulance. “Not correct. Full stop,” he said, but declined to say how long the former president was kept waiting.
At the Pretoria hospital on Sunday, Mr. Zuma also met with Mr. Mandela’s wife, Graça Machel. Mr. Zuma appealed to South Africans and people across the world to pray for “Madiba, his family and the medical team that is attending to him during this difficult time.” Mr. Maharaj criticized some media coverage, reflecting the growing tension between news organizations’ appetite for details and updates about Mr. Mandela’s health and the government’s desire to control information about such a revered national figure.
Mr. Mandela’s health is being closely watched in many parts of the world. He is seen as a moral icon for enduring 27 years of imprisonment yet offering reconciliation with his white captors after his release. The government’s priority, Mr. Maharaj said, was to “protect the privacy of the patient and the family” and to “uphold the dignity of the patient.”
On Sunday, Mr. Zuma appealed to South Africans and people across the world to pray for “Madiba, his family and the medical team that is attending to him during this difficult time.”
Mr. Mandela’s health is being closely watched in many parts of the world. He is seen as a pillar of moral probity for enduring 27 years of imprisonment yet offering reconciliation with his white captors after his release.
News of his deterioration comes as President Obama prepared to leave on Wednesday for a short tour of Africa, including a visit to South Africa starting Friday. Mr. Obama had planned to visit Mr. Mandela. American officials now say that such a meeting would depend on Mr. Mandela’s health and his family’s wishes.News of his deterioration comes as President Obama prepared to leave on Wednesday for a short tour of Africa, including a visit to South Africa starting Friday. Mr. Obama had planned to visit Mr. Mandela. American officials now say that such a meeting would depend on Mr. Mandela’s health and his family’s wishes.
Mr. Zuma said on Monday that the state of Mr. Mandela’s health would not affect the trip.Mr. Zuma said on Monday that the state of Mr. Mandela’s health would not affect the trip.
“Nothing is going to stop the visit because Madiba is sick,” Mr. Zuma said, referring to Mr. Mandela by his clan name. “I don’t think you stop a visit because someone is sick,” Mr. Zuma said.

Alan Cowell contributed reporting from London.

Alan Cowell contributed reporting from London.