Nelson Mandela Spends Second Night in Hospital
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Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images(PRETORIA, South Africa) — Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa, spent a second night in the hospital battling a lung infection on Saturday.
On Saturday, South Africa officials said Mandela was in “serious but stable condition” with his family by his side.
As of Sunday morning, officials have not released any updates on Mandela’s condition.
The 94-year-old Nobel Peace prize winner’s “condition deteriorated and he was transferred to a Pretoria hospital,” early Saturday morning, according to a statement from the office of South African President Jacob Zuma.
“The former President is receiving expert medical care and doctors are doing everything possible to make him better and comfortable,” the statement said. “President Jacob Zuma, on behalf of government and the nation, wishes Madiba [Mandela’s clan nickname] a speedy recovery and requests the media and the public to respect the privacy of Madiba and his family.”
In April, Mandela spent 18 days in the hospital due to a lung infection and was treated for gall stones in December 2012.
Families throughout South Africa prayed for Mandela’s recovery as they attended church services on Sunday.
Mandela served as the first black president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.
In 1993, he received a Nobel Peace Prize for his work in ending apartheid through non-violent means.
Mandela had been ill for some days before being taken to a Pretoria hospital early Saturday.
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