Mandela still ‘serious but stable’ in Pretoria hospital

Mandela’s daughter Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, South Africa’s ambassador to Argentina, flew home to be at his bedside with his third wife Graca Machel and other family members on Monday.

President Jacob Zuma’s office said Mandela’s condition was unchanged and confirmed that he was in intensive care at a hospital in Pretoria.

Prayers have been said in churches across the country for the Nobel Peace Prize winner, who was taken to hospital early on Saturday. It is his fourth hospital stay since December.

Mandela has suffered from recurring lung problems since he contracted tuberculosis during his 27 years as a prisoner on Robben Island.

He was last in hospital in April when he was treated for pneumonia for ten days and doctors drained fluid from his lungs.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu made ailing leader Nelson Mandela the focus of his prayers on Monday.

“We offer our thanks to God for the extraordinary gift of Mr Mandela, and wish his family strength,” Tutu said.