South Africa confirms Mandela's recovery
The South African government released an official statement confirming former President Nelson Mandela's recovery from a lung infection and surgery. A Nobel Peace Prize winner and inspirational figure worldwide, Mandela, now 94, has been in frail health for several years.
Former South African President, Nelson Mandela leaves the chapel after attending the funeral of his great-granddaughter Zenani Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2010. South African officials have confirmed Mandela's recovery from a lung infection and having gallstones removed.
Siphiwe Sibeko/AP/File
Johannesburg
Former South African 笔谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟听聽has recovered from a lung infection and surgery to remove gallstones that kept him in hospital for nearly three weeks, the government said on Sunday.
Mandela, 94, who has been in frail health for several years, spent most of December in a聽聽- his longest stay for medical care since his release from prison in 1990.
He has been receiving treatment at his聽聽home after he left hospital on Dec. 26.
"笔谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟听Mandela聽has made steady progress and clinically, he continues to improve," the聽聽said in a statement.
Mandela聽had recovered from his surgical procedure and the lung infection, it said, citing his medical team. He has made steady progress and was slowly returning to his daily routine.
Nobel Peace Prize 濒补耻谤别补迟别听Mandela聽has a history of lung problems dating back to when he contracted tuberculosis as a political prisoner. He spent 27 years in prison, including 18 years on the windswept Robben Island 辞蹿蹿听.
He became聽's first black president after the first all-race elections in 1994 brought an end to apartheid.
MORAL COMPASS
Mandela聽has been mostly absent from the political scene for the past several years due to poor health, while questions have been raised as to whether his ruling African National Congress (ANC) has lost the moral compass he bequeathed it.
Under such leaders as聽Mandela,听听补苍诲 Oliver Tambo, the ANC gained wide international respect as it battled white rule. Once the yoke of apartheid was thrown off, it began ruling聽聽in a blaze of goodwill from world leaders who viewed it as a beacon for a troubled continent and world.
Close to two decades later, this image has dimmed as critics accuse ANC leaders of indulging in the spoils of office, squandering mineral resources and engaging in power struggles.
Mandela's "Rainbow Nation" of reconciliation has come under strain under 笔谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟听, a Zulu traditionalist with a history of racially charged comments, including a statement in December where he reportedly said dog ownership was for whites and not part of African culture.
Mandela聽has spent much of the past year at another home in Qunu, his ancestral village in the poor聽听辫谤辞惫颈苍肠别.
His poor health has prevented him from making public appearances for about two years, although he has continued to receive high-profile visitors, including former U.S. 笔谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟听.