South Africa: Mandela still in critical condition

Thursday, June 27, 2013

photo In this Wednesday, July 18, 2012 file photo, former South African President Nelson Mandela as he celebrates his 94th birthday with family in Qunu, South Africa. Nelson Mandela's health has deteriorated and he is now in critical condition, the South African government said Sunday, June 23, 2013. The office of President Jacob Zuma said in a statement that he had visited the 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader at a hospital on Sunday evening and was informed by the medical team that Mandela's condition had become critical in the past 24 hours.

A granddaughter of Nelson Mandela says the former South African president remains in critical condition.

The granddaughter, Ndileka Mandela, made the comment Thursday when she and other family members stepped outside the Pretoria hospital treating 94-year-old Mandela to collect flowers and messages of support that were left outside the building.

Ndileka Mandela also describes her grandfather's condition as stable, indicating it had not changed since the government said on Sunday that Mandela's health had deteriorated to a critical state.

The granddaughter says it has been a difficult situation for the family, especially because they are coping with Mandela's illness in the public eye.