Johannesburg, January 28,2011:Former South African President Nelson Mandela is spending a second night in a hospital under medical supervision, amid growing concerns over his health.
The president’s office said Mr Mandela, aged 92, was undergoing “specialised” tests in Johannes burg and “there is no need to panic”.Friends and family visited Mr Mandela on Thursday.
Security was tight outside the hospital and police were called to control traffic as a scrum of journalists grew.
Journalists have also gathered outside Mr Mandela’s home in Houghton, near Johannesburg.
In a statement on Thursday, the South African presidency said it wanted to “assure the nation and the world that the former president is in high spirit”.
“Dr Mandela suffers from 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.”
President Jacob Zuma earlier said Mr Mandela had flown from Cape Town to Johannesburg and had gone to the Milpark Hospital on Wednesday for a check-up.
Mr Zuma, speaking from Davos in Switzerland where he has been attending the World Economic Forum, said: “Given his age he has been taken into a hospital for a check-up. I’m sure check-ups are more frequent than when he was a healthy young man.”
Children at a local school have hung messages of support outside the Milpark Hospital.
Word has quickly spread that Mr Mandela is in hospital, with US President Barack Obama adding his voice and wishes for a speedy recovery.
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