Mandela’s pal refutes vegetative state reports

Nelson Mandela is in critical but stable condition, the South African government said, while a close friend said the anti-apartheid leader was conscious and responsive earlier this week.

The government reiterated that Mandela is not in a vegetative state, contrary to recent court documents.

A court paper filed June 27 concerning Mandela family graves said affidavits would be provided from his physicians to show that Mandela “is in a permanent vegetative state”. A later filing dropped that phrase. Both court filings, however, said that Mandela’s breathing was machine assisted.