Nelson Mandela has lung infection

JOHANNESBURG

Former South African president Nelson Mandela has suffered a recurrence of a previous lung infection and is receiving appropriate treatment, the Presidency said on Tuesday.

"Doctors have concluded the tests, and these have revealed a recurrence of a previous lung infection, for which Madiba is receiving appropriate treatment and he is responding to the treatment," the Presidency said.

"President (Jacob) Zuma thanks the public for continuous support to former president Mandela and his family at this time," it said.

Mandela, 94, remains at 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria, where he was admitted on Saturday for medical tests. The public had been anxiously awaiting word on his conditions.

In response to public concern, the Presidency said on Monday that there was no cause for alarm over his health.

"As said before, former President Mandela will receive medical attention from time to time which is consistent with his age," the Presidency said on the day Mandela was admitted to the hospital.

On Sunday morning, President Zuma visited Mandela and found him "comfortable, and in good care." Zuma said there was no need to panic as Mandela was doing well.

This is not the first time that Mandela was hospitalised in the past two years. In January 2011, he was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital for an acute respiratory infection. In February this year, he spent a night in a hospital for a minor diagnostic surgery to determine the cause of an abdominal complain.

Mandela, who was imprisoned for 27 years during apartheid, was elected the country's first black president in 1994.