Mandela in hospital for 'routine' tests

AFP | NATION. Zindzi Mandela (left), the youngest daughter of former South African President Nelson Mandela shows him a letter at his home in Johannesburg on July 17, 2010 during celebrations of his 92nd birthday.

JOHANNESBURG, Wednesday

Nelson Mandela is in hospital for "routine" tests on Wednesday but his health is not in jeopardy, said the former South African president's foundation in a statement.

"He is in no danger and is in good spirits," the foundation said, confirming that he attended Milpark hospital in Johannesburg.

An AFP photographer saw Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, leaving the hospital at around 5:30 pm (1530 GMT), with four other family members departing shortly after. His personal assistant Zelda la Grange arrived at 6:00 pm.

The hospital declined to comment on whether the anti-apartheid hero would be staying in hospital overnight, saying it does not give information on patients as a matter of policy.

Mandela, South Africa's first black president, is increasingly frail and has not appeared publicly since the closing ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg.

After his withdrawal from public life in 2004, he created the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and the Mandela Rhodes Foundation to continue humanitarian work on his behalf.