Madiba Discharged After Nine Day Hospital Stay

Former South African President and ANC leader Nelson Mandela along with his wife Graca Machel and his grandson., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Madiba discharged after nine day hospital stay

The presidency says former president Nelson Mandela has been discharged after spending nine days in hospital recovering from pneumonia.

06 Apr 2013 14:58 - Sapa

"Former president Nelson Mandela has been discharged from hospital today, April 6, following a sustained and gradual improvement in his general condition," spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a statement.

"The former president will now receive home-based high care."

Maharaj said President Jacob Zuma extended his gratitude to all South Africans and people around the world for their support.

"President Zuma thanks the hard working medical team and hospital staff for looking after Madiba so efficiently," he said.

Mandela was admitted to hospital on March 27.

Since then the 94-year-old has had fluid drained from his lungs to ease his breathing.

Mandela has fought back from lung ailments before.

Early in March, Mandela was admitted to a Pretoria hospital for a scheduled check-up. He was discharged the following day.

In and out of hospital

In December last year, Mandela underwent an operation to remove gallstones and to treat the recurring lung infection. He was discharged after an 18-day stay and placed under home-based high care at his Houghton, Johannesburg, residence.

In January, the presidency said Mandela had made a full recovery from the surgery and continued to improve.

In February last year, he was admitted to hospital for a stomach ailment.

At the time, the presidency said Mandela underwent a diagnostic procedure to investigate the cause of a long-standing abdominal complaint.

In January 2011, Mandela was taken to Milpark Hospital for routine tests relating to respiratory problems.

Mandela's last major public appearance was in July 2010, at the final of the Fifa World Cup at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg.

Since then he had spent his time between Johannesburg and his ancestral village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape.

According to the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1988, after he had been transferred out of Robben Island to Pollsmoor Prison.

– Sapa