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Mandela to stay in hospital

Doctors are offering few details on the former S. African president.

FILE This May 16, 2011 file photo supplied by the South African Government Communications and Information Services, GCIS, shows former South African President Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel after they cast an early ballot in upcoming local elections at his home in Johannesburg, South Africa. South Africa's president has visited former leader Nelson Mandela in a hospital, and the presidency says Mandela continues to respond to treatment. The office of President Jacob Zuma says he saw Mandela on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, in Pretoria, the capital, and assured the anti-apartheid icon that he has the support of all South Africans and the world. Mandela, who is 94, has been hospitalized since Dec. 8. He was diagnosed with a lung infection and also had gallstone surgery. (AP Photo/Elmond Jiyane-GCIS, File)
FILE This May 16, 2011 file photo supplied by the South African Government Communications and Information Services, GCIS, shows former South African President Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel after they cast an early ballot in upcoming local elections at his home in Johannesburg, South Africa. South Africa's president has visited former leader Nelson Mandela in a hospital, and the presidency says Mandela continues to respond to treatment. The office of President Jacob Zuma says he saw Mandela on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, in Pretoria, the capital, and assured the anti-apartheid icon that he has the support of all South Africans and the world. Mandela, who is 94, has been hospitalized since Dec. 8. He was diagnosed with a lung infection and also had gallstone surgery. (AP Photo/Elmond Jiyane-GCIS, File)Read moreAP
    by By Robyn Dixon, LOS ANGELES TIMES, McClatchy-Tribune
    Published 

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, will spend Christmas in the hospital, with authorities announcing that doctors have no plans to discharge the former president.

Mandela, 94, South Africa's first black president, has been hospitalized since Dec. 8, his longest stay since he was released from prison in 1993. He originally was hospitalized for a lung infection but also has had surgery for gallstones.

Authorities have offered scant day-to-day information about Mandela's illness. President Jacob Zuma issued a brief statement Monday afternoon that Mandela was responding to treatment. No date has been given on when he might be discharged.

The government originally misled the South African population about which hospital Mandela was in, as well as his condition.

It wasn't until nearly a fortnight after Mandela was flown to a hospital in Pretoria from his home in the Eastern Cape province that Zuma acknowledged that his condition was serious. Earlier, government ministers indicated that Mandela was in a military hospital in Pretoria, but it turned out he was in a private hospital.

In a statement Monday, Zuma called on South Africans and people around the world to pray for Mandela.

"Knowledge of the love and support of his people keeps him strong. Therefore, we urge all South Africans to keep Tata [Mandela] uppermost in their thoughts at every place of worship or entertainment tomorrow on Christmas Day, and throughout the festive season.

"We also humbly invite all freedom-loving people around the world to pray for him. He is an ardent fighter and will recover from this episode with all our support," Zuma said. He also told Mandela's family to be strong and promised them the support of government and all the people of South Africa.

Mandela has had a history of lung problems since contracting tuberculosis in his 27-year prison term.

The former president has been ill several times in recent years, often sparking wild rumors that he had died.

South Africans continue to send messages wishing for Mandela's recovery, usually affectionately referring to him by his clan name, Madiba. Trade Union boss Zwelinzima Vavi tweeted Monday that he was playing a song dedicated to Mandela by South African gospel singer Solly Moholo.

"We are with him all the way as he spends festive season in hospital," Vavi said.