FORMER SOUTH African president Nelson Mandela was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital yesterday to undergo routine tests, the Nelson Mandela Foundation has said.
The 92-year-old was taken to the private Milpark hospital in Johannesburg by ambulance during the afternoon. He was accompanied by family members and his personal assistant, Zelda la Grange.
Rumours have been circulating in recent weeks that the Nobel peace prizewinner was not in good health. Former archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu said on Tuesday that Mr Mandela looked frail when he saw him at the weekend.
However, the Nelson Mandela Foundation moved fast yesterday to quell any further rumours in a statement which said “he [Mr Mandela] is in no danger and is in good spirits”.
Independent broadcaster E.TV reported that Mr Mandela was not in the hospital’s intensive care unit, although he was receiving priority treatment.
Reporters began to gather outside the hospital from around the middle of the afternoon, which prompted the hospital authorities to beef up security. The hospital declined to comment on whether Mr Mandela would be staying in hospital overnight.