Nelson Mandela Hospitalised in 'serious' Condition

QUNU: Former South African president Nelson Mandela was taken to a hospital in a 'serious' condition today following a recurrence of the lung infection that has plagued him in recent months. It is the third spell in hospital since December for the 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader, whose health has been failing in recent years. Mandela was said to be in 'good spirits' but the situation was 'serious this time', a government spokesman told South African television today. 'The situation is serious this time but doctors have assured us he is comfortable,' presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj told television station eNCA.Mr Maharaj said members of Mandela's family had accompanied him to hospital and remained at his bedside.He told the BBC the country's first black president developed his lung condition while incarcerated in prison many years ago and that he requires treatment from time to time. 

Doctors treat the matter with great caution, he said, and Mandela is admitted to hospital 'as necessary' to give him the best opportunity to recover. 'He has been in good spirits. He is a fighter and he will be with us as long as he is there fighting,' Mr Maharaj added. An earlier statement from the office of President Jacob Zuma said: 'During the past few days, former President Nelson Mandela has had a recurrence of lung infection, 'This morning at about 1.30am, his condition deteriorated and he was transferred to a Pretoria hospital.' The statement said Mandela remains in a 'serious but stable' condition. It said Mandela, who will celebrate his 95th birthday next month, was receiving expert medical care and 'doctors are doing everything possible to make him better and comfortable'. Zuma wished Mandela a quick recovery on behalf of the government and the nation and requested that the media and the public respect the privacy of the former leader and his family, the statement said. 

Using the former president's Xhosa clan name, the statement said: 'President Jacob Zuma, on behalf of government and the nation, wishes Madiba a speedy recovery.' In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron was among the first to send get well wishes to the former South African president, tweeting: 'My thoughts are with Nelson Mandela, who is in hospital in South Africa.' The African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party that has dominated politics in South Africa since the end of apartheid, said it hoped Mandela would get better soon. 'We will keep President Mandela and his family in our thoughts and prayers at this time and call upon South Africans and the peoples of the globe to do the same for our beloved statesman and icon, Madiba,' the party said in a statement. Mandela's forgiving spirit and belief in racial reconciliation helped hold South Africa together at a time of extreme tension in the run up to elections in 1994.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who was imprisoned for 27 years by the racist white regime, became the first democratically elected president of South Africa in that year. Mandela was previously admitted to hospital in March, where doctors drained fluid from his lung area after diagnosing him with pneumonia. The former president spent 10 days in hospital before being released in 'good shape' on April 6. Video footage was released of Mandela - or Madiba as he is affectionately known in South Africa - back at home and surrounded by family and friends. It is the last time he has been seen in public. It followed an earlier stint in hospital in December 2012 after he developed a lung infection and gallstones.