The condition of former South African leader Nelson Mandela has deteriorated in the last few days, presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj has said.
The announcement came as President Jacob Zuma cancelled a trip to Mozambique following consultations with Mr. Mandela’s doctors.
Mr. Mandela, 94, South Africa’s first black president, has been in hospital since June 8 with a lung infection, BBC reports.
Emotional crowds continue to gather outside the Pretoria hospital.
They have been adding messages of support for Mr. Mandela, known by his clan name Madiba.
BBC says South Africans now seem resigned to the prospect of his death.
“We don’t like seeing Mandela going through so much pain, he has had a tough time in his life and he’s gone through a lot of struggle. I think this struggle should get over sooner,” Khulile Mlondleni told the BBC.
“We are all going to feel bad when he passes [away], but at the same time we will be celebrating his life. He has done so many great things for this country,” said 25-year-old John Ndlovu, quoted by Reuters news agency.
Mr. Maharaj announced Mr. Mandela’s deterioration late on Wednesday evening, after consultations with doctors.
“Over the past 48 hours, the condition of former President Madiba has gone down,” he said.
Mr. Zuma said he was cancelling his trip to a regional summit in the Mozambican capital Maputo.
via nigerianeye
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