South African president Jacob Zuma urged citizens to pray for Nelson Mandela after a visit to the hospital on Monday, amid reports that the former leader was in "critical condition."
Mandela, who has been called the "father of democracy" and, according to the Associated Press, made huge strides in humanitarianism for South Africa, has been hospitalized for 17 days now, in a medical facility located in Pretoria. The 94-year-old former leader is being treated for a respiratory infection.
Zuma said that Mandela was asleep when he came to visit, but did not give much more detail on the sick politician's condition.
"I'm not a doctor," he insisted.
Just one day before, members of the South African government said that Nelson Mandela's health had almost broken down and that he was in dire condition.
Zuma tried to protect Mandela's privacy-an issue that highlighted a press conference on Monday-by limiting his comments. On the basis of hospital-patient confidentiality, Zuma inisisted he could not give details on the former leader's health. Meanwhile, members of the press argued that the public should be given accurate updates on Mandela's health.
Zuma only mentioned that he saw a sleeping Mandela and spoke briefly with his wife and doctors.
"It was late, he was already asleep," Zuma said. "And we then had a bit of a discussion with the doctors as well as his wife, Graca Machel, and we left."
He asked for the public to keep Mandela in their prayers.
"Madiba is critical in the hospital, and this is the father of democracy. This is the man who fought and sacrificed his life to stay in prison, the longest-serving prisoner in South Africa," Zuma said, calling Mandela by his clan name.
When asked about President Barack Obama's visit to South Africa, Zuma said that the American POTUS would most likely not stop his trip for Mandela's health.
"President Obama is visiting South Africa," Zuma told the press. "I don't think you stop a visit because somebody's sick."
President Obama is set to arrive in Africa this week. He will pay visits to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania, the Associated Press said.
