Nelson Mandela was last night in hospital in South Africa after
being airlifted from his isolated village home.
The 94-year-old former president was thought to be having tests in
a military hospital in Pretoria.
Officials said there was no cause for alarm, saying he needed
medical attention from time to time ‘which is consistent for his
age’.
South African President Jacob Zuma said yesterday: ‘We wish
Madiba [Mandela’s tribal name] all the best. The medical team is
assured of our support as they look after and ensure the comfort of
our beloved founding president of a free and democratic South
Africa.’
But there was widespread concern about this latest health scare –
the third since Mr Mandela retired from public life in 2004.
He was treated for a respiratory infection in January 2011, and
last February had a procedure for abdominal problems.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner has not been seen in public since the
celebrations at the end of the football World Cup in Johannesburg two
years ago.
Mr Mandela has been frail for some time and visitors to his home
have said his memory is failing. He was last photographed in August
with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at his home.






















