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| Nelson Mandela |
Former South African President Nelson Mandela is undergoing specialised tests in hospital and there is no reason to panic over his health, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Friday.
Mandela, 92, was admitted to hospital on Wednesday, prompting fears for the anti-apartheid icon who led South Africa as its first black president and is revered at home and abroad as a symbol of reconciliation and hope.A source close to Mandela told Reuters on Thursday he was recovering from a collapsed lung and could leave hospital as early as Friday. His foundation said he had been admitted for routine tests
Motlanthe said Mandela was in good spirits and given his age and medical history, the tests were needed to ensure he got the best care. "Medically there is no need to panic. Dr. Mandela suffers from (an) ailment common to people of his age, and conditions that have developed over years. We may recall that he has suffered from tuberculosis whilst on Robben Island and has had previous respiratory infections," Motlanthe said.
Mandela was diagnosed with tuberculosis in the 1980s while he was jailed and later had an operation to repair damage to his eyes. In 2001 he had treatment for prostate cancer. He was released from prison in 1990 after 27 years imprisonment.
President Jacob Zuma and the ruling African National Congress appealed for calm after the hospitalisation set off speculation in local media about Mandela's health and brought family members and dignitaries rushing to the hospital.
