(http://peoplesdailyng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Nelson-Mandela-0161.jpg) (http://peoplesdailyng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Nelson-Mandela-0161.jpg)Nelson Mandela has become critically ill in hospital, the South African presidency has announced.
In a statement, President Jacob Zuma said Mandela's doctors were "doing everything possible to get his condition to improve."
"He is in good hands," said Mr. Zuma.
South Africa's first black president, who is 94, was taken to hospital earlier this month for the third time this year, with a recurrent lung infection.
The statement said Mr. Zuma had visited Mr. Mandela in hospital in Pretoria on Sunday evening and was told the former president's condition had worsened over the past 24 hours.
"The doctors are doing everything possible to get his condition to improve and are ensuring that Madiba is well-looked after and is comfortable.
He is in good hands," said President Zuma, using Mr Mandela's clan name by which he is widely known in South Africa.
Mr Zuma appealed for prayers for Mr Mandela and his medical team.
There has been little information about Mr Mandela's condition in recent days.
On 13 June Mr Zuma, who releases all updates relating to the revered leader, said the former president's health continued to improve but that his condition remained serious.
More recently, one of Mandela's grandsons, Ndaba Mandela, said his grandfather was getting better and he hoped he would be home soon.
Mr Mandela's wife, Graca Machel, thanked all those who had sent messages of support, saying they had brought "love, comfort and hope".
The former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner is believed to have suffered damage to his lungs while working in a prison quarry.
He contracted tuberculosis in the 1980s while being held in jail on the windswept Robben Island.
Mr Mandela retired from public life in 2004 and has rarely been seen at official events since.
On Saturday, it emerged that the ambulance in which Mandela was taken to hospital on 8 June broke down, meaning he had to be moved to another vehicle.
But Mr Zuma said he had been assured that "all care was taken to ensure his medical condition was not compromised".
"There were seven doctors in the convoy who were in full control of the situation throughout the period. He had expert medical care," he said.
Mr Zuma also denied reports that the former leader had suffered a cardiac arrest.
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Nelson Mandela just has to get well for Africa. Whatever it takes the doctors should just make him hale and hearty again.