Nelson Mandela: a nation's hope
| 09:04 UK time, Friday, 28 January 2011
This topic was discussed on World Have Your Say on 28 January 2011. Listen to the programme.
Nelson Mandela has returned home from hospital after treatment for an acute respiratory infection.
As the world watched and South Africa held its breath, officials moved to quell 48 hours of growing panic over the condition of the frail 92-year-old. In a press conference Kgalema Motlanthe, the deputy president, said Mandela was in high spirits and had been joking with him this morning.
There has been huge speculation this week after a hospital visit for 'routine tests' has turned out to be more serious. Reuters say that Mr Mandela was suffering from a collapsed lung.
The ANC has appealed to South Africans to remain calm. Jackson Mthembu, a spokesman for the ANC said:
It is a well-known fact that Madiba is 92-years-old and no longer a young man. As South Africans, let us all allow doctors at the hospital to do their best in conducting tests on our elder statesman.
Ros is in Johannesburg and he'll be talking to people there about what Nelson Mandela means to them and why everyone is watching the situation so intensely.
