Live Updates on Nelson Mandela
President Jacob Zuma visited former President Nelson Mandela in hospital in Pretoria today, 27 June, and was informed by the medical team that Madiba’s condition has improved during the course of the night. He remains critical but is now stable.
President Jacob Zuma visited Mandela in hospital in Pretoria after abandoning a planned trip to a summit in Mozambique. Mandela’s medical team advised him of a slight improvement in the former president’s health.
“I cancelled my visit to Mozambique today so that I can see him and confer with the doctors,” Zuma said.
“He is much better today than he was when I saw him last night. The medical team continues to do a sterling job. We must pray for Tata’s health and wish him well. We must also continue with our work and daily activities while Madiba remains hospitalised.”
The presidency added that it was disturbed by rumours being spread about Mandela’s health and appealed for his privacy to be respected.
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15:43 US President Barack Obama says Thursday that Nelson Mandela was a “hero for the world” whose legacy will live on throughout the ages, as the anti-apartheid hero lay critically ill in hospital.
“He is a personal hero. I think he is a hero for the world, and if and when he passes from this place, one thing I think we all know is that his legacy is one that will linger on throughout the ages,” Obama said in Senegal.
Obama will travel on Friday to South Africa, where Mandela is critically ill in hospital. There was some speculation he would delay or skip his stop in South Africa if Mandela were to die in order to avoid creating a distraction or logistical problems for the government.
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15:41: Mandela is still alive and even occasionally opening his eyes.
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14:45 – ANC: Rumours demonstrate insensitivity by those who continue to repeat them to Madiba, family, all people of South Africa and the world who love Mandela.
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14:44 – The presidency’s website appears to have crashed following the release of a statement saying that Mandela’s health had improved.
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14:43 – ANC: ANC is disturbed by consistent rumours being peddled in the media and elsewhere around the state of health of Mandela.
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14:41 – And seconds after the presidency statement, the ANC releases a statement on prayer meetings for Mandela. Also disturbed by rumours, tweets Carien du Plessis.
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14:38 – The presidency says it is disturbed by the rumours that are being spread about former President Mandela’s health. We appeal for respect for the privacy and dignity of the former president.
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14:29 – Graca Machel has been spotted leaving the hospital, says Barry Bateman.
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14:25 – The presidency says Madiba’s condition has improved during the course of the night. He remains critical but stable. Zuma: He is much better today [Thursday] than he was when I saw him last night. The medical team continues to do a sterling job.
