South Africa's Mandela Remains Hospitalized

A banner advertises gold coins with the image of former South African President Nelson Mandela, Johannesburg, December 9, 2012.

Officials say former South African President Nelson Mandela is in no immediate danger, as he spends his third day in the hospital undergoing medical tests.

The Defense Ministry made the announcement Monday as millions of South Africans awaited word of the revered anti-apartheid leader's condition.

The 94-year-old Mandela was admitted to a Pretoria hospital Saturday for tests that a presidential statement said were "consistent with his age" and were "no cause for alarm."

Earlier Monday, President Jacob Zuma's office said that Mandela "had a good night's rest," and that hospital officials wanted to thank the public for messages supporting the former leader and his family.

Nelson Mandela


Mandela has grown frail and has not made a public appearance in several years. In February, he was briefly hospitalized for abdominal pain.

He became South Africa's first black president in 1994. Prior to becoming president, he spent 27 years in prison for his fight against the country's apartheid policies.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.