Family prepare for possible Mandela move from hospital to home
PRETORIA, South Africa - Preparations
are being made so that Nelson
Mandela could be transferred from
hospital to his own home should his
condition improve, sources close to his
family said Saturday.
The 95-year-old democracy icon and
former president of South Africa was
admitted to hospital on June 8 with a
recurring lung infection.
Family sources said preparations were
underway at Mandela’s home, near
Johannesburg, for the eventuality of a
possible move – but doctors remain
concerned that his poor health means
such a transfer is too risky.
Media reports that Mandela had
already been moved were dismissed
Saturday by the country’s presidency.
“The Presidency has noted incorrect
media reports that former President
Nelson Mandela has been discharged
from hospital,” said spokesman Mac
Maharaj in a statement.
“Madiba is still in hospital in Pretoria,
and remains in a critical but stable
condition. At times his condition
becomes unstable, but he responds to
medical interventions.”
His lung infection is attributed to the
manual labor he was forced to perform
while he was a political prisoner in
South Africa nearly three decades.
