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Nelson Mandela 'recovering well'

18 December 2012

Former President Nelson Mandela has undergone a procedure via endoscopy to have gall stones removed.

"The procedure was successful and Madiba is recovering," the Presidency said in a statement on Saturday.

The former President was hospitalized in Pretoria on 8 December for a series of tests.

The tests revealed that there was a recurrence of a lung infection and that Madiba had developed gall stones.

"The medical team decided to attend to a lung infection before determining when to attend to the gall stones. President Jacob Zuma, on behalf of all South Africans, wishes Madiba speedy recovery," it added.

The Presidency once again appealed for privacy for Madiba and his family, following speculation about the hospital he was being treated in.

"We refrained from disclosing the hospital in order to ensure privacy and also to allow doctors space to do their work of caring for Madiba without interruptions or undue pressure," the Presidency said on Thursday.

There has been an outpouring of well wishes for Madiba from South Africans from all walks of life since news of his illness broke.

Mandela, who turned 94 in July, underwent treatment for a similar respiratory infection at Johannesburg's Milpark Hospital in January 2011.

Source: SANews.gov.za and SAinfo reporter