Nelson Mandela's health showing 'slow but steady improvement'

Monday, August 12, 2013

South African President Jacob Zuma announced yesterday that the health of former President and anti-apartheid campaigner Nelson Mandela was showing a "slow but steady improvement". The 95-year-old was admitted to hospital on June 8 with a lung infection.

Zuma's statement mirrors that of Mandela's youngest daughter Zindzi who told the state-owned television company SABC on Friday that Mandela "now manages to sit up, like now he is able to sit up in a chair for a few minutes in a day. Every day you know, he is becoming more alert, more responsive and so on."

Zindzi was confident in her father's recovery: "[He] is determined not to go anywhere anytime soon. I cannot stress this enough. People must stop saying to the family 'let go, let go'. We are just looking at this man who is saying 'I'm not going anywhere'."

According to legal documents filed by Mandela's family, he was at one stage on life support. All vehicles entering the hospital in Pretoria where Mandela is being treated are being searched by police officers. Well-wishers have left messages and flowers for Mandela.

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Related news

"Nelson Mandela hospitalised again with lung infection recurrence" — Wikinews, March 28, 2013
"South Africa hospital discharges former president Nelson Mandela" — Wikinews, December 28, 2012
"Nelson Mandela suffers collapsed lung" — Wikinews, January 28, 2011

Sources

SAPA. "‘Mandela is making steady progress’" — IOL News, August 12, 2013
AP. "South Africa: Mandela improving but still critical" — USA Today, August 11, 2013
"Nelson Mandela health: 'slow but steady improvement'" — Channel 4 News, August 11, 2013

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