Nelson Mandela hospitalised for old age tests

Johannesburg, Jan 27: Health of former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, 92, is said to have worsened as he was admitted to hospital for old-age related medical tests.

However, the Nelson Mandela Foundation termed the medical tests on the statesman as routine, reports siad. He was admitted to Johannesburg's Milpark hospital for health checks "for a man of his age," the reports said.

The hospital was green netted to conceal the acitivity inside. Number of members of Mandela family, including his wife Graca Machel, grand children and great grand children visited the hospital on Wednesday evening, Jan 26. Several black VIP cars were seen parked outside the hospital.

According to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who stated to the South African Press Association (SAPA), Mandela was all right, but "frail" due to his old age. "I saw him last week," Tutu said in Cape Town on Tuesday.

A report circulated on online social network Twitter earlier this month had stated that Mandela was dead. However, South Africa's ruling African National Congress condemned the report as false, malicious and insensitive. A local newspaper said that though the rumours were false, Mandela's health had worsened.

In 1994, Mandela became South Africa's first democratically elected president. Mandela, the icon of South African anti-apartheid movement, was jailed for 27 years before being released in 1990. He retired from the country's active politics and public life a few years ago.

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