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| Jacob Zuma: Nelson Mandela is still in critical condition | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nelson Mandela remains in a critical condition in hospital, the South African president, Jacob Zuma, has said, adding that Mandela was asleep when he visited him the previous night. | Nelson Mandela remains in a critical condition in hospital, the South African president, Jacob Zuma, has said, adding that Mandela was asleep when he visited him the previous night. |
| The 94-year-old statesman is spending his 17th day in hospital with a recurring lung infection and hopes of a recovery are ebbing. | The 94-year-old statesman is spending his 17th day in hospital with a recurring lung infection and hopes of a recovery are ebbing. |
| Addressing a press conference followed on TV and radio by millions of tense South Africans, Zuma said he had visited Mandela on Sunday night and was told by doctors "that Madiba's [his clan name] health had changed in the past 24 hours and he was now critical and they were doing everything to ensure that they give him good treatment, make him feel comfortable, as they have been doing all the time". | Addressing a press conference followed on TV and radio by millions of tense South Africans, Zuma said he had visited Mandela on Sunday night and was told by doctors "that Madiba's [his clan name] health had changed in the past 24 hours and he was now critical and they were doing everything to ensure that they give him good treatment, make him feel comfortable, as they have been doing all the time". |
| Zuma, who was accompanied to the Mediclinic heart hospital in Pretoria by Cyril Ramaphosa, deputy president of the African National Congress (ANC), said there had been no opportunity to communicate with Mandela. "Given the hour that we got to the hospital, of course it was late, he was already asleep and we were there, looked at him, saw him, and we then had a bit of a discussion with the doctors as well as his wife, Graça Machel, and we left." | Zuma, who was accompanied to the Mediclinic heart hospital in Pretoria by Cyril Ramaphosa, deputy president of the African National Congress (ANC), said there had been no opportunity to communicate with Mandela. "Given the hour that we got to the hospital, of course it was late, he was already asleep and we were there, looked at him, saw him, and we then had a bit of a discussion with the doctors as well as his wife, Graça Machel, and we left." |
| Facing dozens of local and foreign journalists in Johannesburg, Zuma said he was unable to provide more details. "I'm looking at all of you here. I can't tell you what is wrong with him. I'm not a doctor … I think what I understand is when a person is critical, the person is critical. I'm not a doctor to describe the condition, to say how critical. I think that's the business of the doctor." | Facing dozens of local and foreign journalists in Johannesburg, Zuma said he was unable to provide more details. "I'm looking at all of you here. I can't tell you what is wrong with him. I'm not a doctor … I think what I understand is when a person is critical, the person is critical. I'm not a doctor to describe the condition, to say how critical. I think that's the business of the doctor." |
| Mandela has been hospitalised four times since December but this is the first in which officials have used words such as "serious" and "critical" to describe his condition. There is a growing sense of resignation in South Africa, where he is idolised with almost religious fervour, that he may soon bow to the inevitable. | Mandela has been hospitalised four times since December but this is the first in which officials have used words such as "serious" and "critical" to describe his condition. There is a growing sense of resignation in South Africa, where he is idolised with almost religious fervour, that he may soon bow to the inevitable. |
| Zuma paid tribute to the giant of the anti-apartheid movement and called for the nation to pray for him. "I think it's important for us to say Madiba is critical in the hospital and this is the father of democracy, this is the man who fought and sacrificed his life, the longest-serving prisoner in South Africa. | Zuma paid tribute to the giant of the anti-apartheid movement and called for the nation to pray for him. "I think it's important for us to say Madiba is critical in the hospital and this is the father of democracy, this is the man who fought and sacrificed his life, the longest-serving prisoner in South Africa. |
| "He's one of those who has contributed to democracy ideologically and therefore he's the man we all love. I think all of us in the country should accept that Madiba is now old … and that therefore as he ages, his health will begin to trouble him. | "He's one of those who has contributed to democracy ideologically and therefore he's the man we all love. I think all of us in the country should accept that Madiba is now old … and that therefore as he ages, his health will begin to trouble him. |
| "I think what we need to do as a country is to pray for him to be well, ensure that the doctors do their work so that he can come out of the hospital. If we did that I think we would be honouring Madiba and his life. Let him get well, we pray for him." | "I think what we need to do as a country is to pray for him to be well, ensure that the doctors do their work so that he can come out of the hospital. If we did that I think we would be honouring Madiba and his life. Let him get well, we pray for him." |
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