Mandela home after scheduled medical check-up

Nelson Mandela was back home yesterday after spending a night in hospital for a “scheduled medical check-up”, the president’s office said.

“Former President Nelson Mandela has... returned to his Johannesburg home following a successful medical examination at a Pretoria hospital,” said presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj.

“The doctors have completed the tests. He is well and, as before, his health remains under the management of the medical team.”

Mandela had been admitted for “a scheduled medical check-up to manage the existing conditions in line with his age”, less than three months after being treated for a lung infection and gallstones.

News of his latest hospitalisation sparked concern that the 94-year-old had fallen ill again.

Authorities did not divulge at which Pretoria hospital he was staying.

But a witness said that, on Saturday, patients at the Mediclinic Heart Hospital were moved out of the ward that Mandela stayed in during an 18-day December hospitalisation.

The hospital told them the ward needed to be repainted, but nobody was allowed near the area.