JOHANNESBURG: Ailing anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela spent in hospital for a third day yesterday and receive further undisclosed tests, but was comfortable and in “no immediate danger,” the South African government said.
There is “no immediate danger to him at this stage,” said Sonwabo Mbananga, a spokesman for the ministry of defence, which is responsible for the 94-year-old’s health care. Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula visited Mandela yesterday at the country’s leading military hospital in Pretoria and found the 94-year-old former president “in good spirits.”
“He is comfortable, he continues to receive treatment which... (is) routine and that should be expected of a person of his senior age,” Mbananga said. Mandela was airlifted to the One Military Hospital in Pretoria from his home village of Qunu in southeast of the country on Saturday.
The presidency said Mandela would take additional tests, but officials have kept their silence on the procedures involved and have not given specifics about his medical condition.
It was unclear if the ailing former president would spend a third night in hospital.
“That (decision) is still in the hands of the doctors.... They are saying they are doing further tests,” presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said.AFP
