Johannesburg -
South African celebrities wished former president Nelson Mandela a speedy recovery on Wednesday.
“The man (Mandela) has done incredible things for us as a nation and the years have caught up with him,” singer Lira said in Pretoria.
“We should send prayers that he is not in too much discomfort in his old age. Prayers of support to his family. We all love him as a nation but we must understand that he is an old man.”
Mandela was hospitalised in Pretoria over the weekend. He was flown from his home in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Saturday.
On Wednesday, the presidency said the 94-year-old Mandela was suffering from the recurrence of a previous lung infection but was responding to treatment.
Singer Chommie said South Africa needed Mandela and he was loved by everyone - nationally and internationally.
“Something tells me in my heart that Nelson Mandela will be around us for more years to come,” she said.
“Tata we wish you well. We still want you around us and we still want you to be present when we have our kids. You think of South Africa and you think of Nelson Mandela. We pray that God keeps you with us.”
Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said Mandela was doing very well and more details would be released when available.
“The president is doing very well, he has been recovering and responding very well to the medication he has been getting,” Chabane said.
Songbird Marah Louw said Mandela was her dancing partner after his release from prison and said she savoured the good memories.
“Madiba please get well soon. We accept that you are not young anymore... We wish we could keep you in a little bubble so you can stay with us forever,” she said.
“We wish you recover so you can go home and enjoy Christmas with your family. The first time the world saw Tata Madiba dancing was in Scotland with me, when he received an award. I miss dancing with you.”
Journalists from local and international media stayed put at Pretoria's 1 Military Hospital on Wednesday morning, as the former president received his fifth day of treatment at the tightly secured facility. - Sapa