South Africa: Mandela's condition is stable but critical, says granddaughter

South Africa: Mandela's condition is stable but critical, says granddaughter

Nelson Mandela's condition is stable but still critical, his granddaughter Ndileka Mandela said Thursday in front of the hospital where the Nobel Prize and former South African President is being treated, in Pretoria.

Furthermore, Mandela expressed her gratitude and said that the family is receiving a lot of support from South African citizens: "He is stable and I would like to say that we thank everybody for giving us support and praying with us and that we are entrust, as you know that he is critical but in a stable condition right now".

However, Ndileka Mandela also complained about the public exposure of their suffering: "It's been hard, it has been hard, especially because of all of this, that we have to do everything in the public eyes. We understand, but if you feel like that, can you imagine how we feel? That is multiplied in numbers."

She also commented how effective peoples messages have been: "There is a lot of comfort that is coming up from the messages. People sent us personal messages through phones and the messages that we get, that you guys captured, and the messages that are here. They have given us strength to carry on and to give him positive energy that he can come out of the hospital. Thank you".

Nelson Mandela was hospitalized on June 8 due to a lung infection, and has remained under treatment since. Mandela retired from public life in 2004.