By Staff Reporter
The South African government has confirmed that former president and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela (94) is recovering from a successful operation to have gallstones removed.
Madiba as he is affectionately known has been in hospital with a lung infection for a week. He was admitted to the 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria on December 8 for tests, which revealed the recurrence of the infection.
“The former president underwent a procedure via endoscopy to have the gallstones removed … The procedure was successful and Madiba is recovering,” a government statement said.
The doctors wanted to treat Mandela for the lung infection first before carrying out the gallstones procedure. He made his last public appearance when his country hosted the 2010 World Cup football tournament.
In January 2011, he was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital for what officials initially described as tests but turned out to be an acute respiratory infection.
The chaos that followed saw the South African military take charge of his care and the government control information about his health. South African President Jacob Zuma has wished Mr Mandela a “speedy recovery”.
