S. African gov't keeps mum over Mandela's condition

The South African government on Monday kept mum on the condition of former president Nelson Mandela, who spent his third day in hospital.

For lack of official confirmation, rumors spread as South Africans and the whole world are waiting for word on Mandela's condition.

The Star newspaper on Monday quoted "three highly placed government sources" as saying Mandela's condition was "scary."

The report also said Mandela's family apparently was banning government and senior African National Congress officials from visiting the anti-apartheid icon.

The government last released an update about Mandela's condition on Saturday morning, after the Nobel Peace Prize laureate was admitted to a Pretoria hospital for a recurring lung problem.

Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said Mandela, 94, was in "a serious but stable condition."

"Doctors were doing everything they could to make Mandela better and comfortable," Maharaj said.

In an interview with eNCA later Saturday, Maharaj said Mandela's condition remained unchanged.

"What I'm told by doctors is that Mandela was breathing on his own and I think that is a positive sign."

Maharaj said he would inform the public of Mandela's condition once the Presidency received word from the doctors.

A call to Maharaj on Monday was not answered.

Since Saturday, Mandela's family members, including his daughter Makaziwe Mandela, have been seen going in and out of the hospital where he is staying.

Outside Mandela's Johannesburg home, well-wishers have come to drop messages of support.

A 14-year-old girl, who gave her name as Ammy, said she came by to wish Madiba (Mandela's nickname) a speedy recovery. She carried a colored stone with the words "Madiba, you'll never fail. God bless you," and put it under a tree.

Such colored stones from well-wishers are piling up under the trees in front of Mandela's house.

This is the fourth time Mandela ha been hospitalized for the same ailment since December last year.

Mandela served as South African president from 1994 to 1999. He had spent 27 years in prison before elected the first black president in the country after the end of apartheid. His lung problem was the result of tuberculosis developed when he was in prison.

Mandela's failing health has been the focus of attention in recent years.

Maharaj said as Mandela gets old, it takes longer for him to recover.