South Africa's former president, the first Black president and first post-apartheid president, has been hospitalized in Johannesburg.
The government and Mandela's family are trying to calm the South African public and have issued assurances that he is not in any danger.
On the other hand, the South African media is holding a vigil outside the hospital, and current South African president Jacob Zuma, who is in Davos Switzerland, attending the annual Davos meeting of world leaders is being constantly briefed on former President Mandela's medical condition.
Mr. Mandela is 92 years old, and recently Bishop Desmond Tutu, another elderly veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle, mentioned that President Mandela is "frail."
Mr. Mandela, who is commonly referred to by a praise name, Madiba, in South Africa, went to the hospital for what was described as a routine examination, but the doctors decided to hospitalize him.
More worrying, CBS News is reporting that Mr. Mandela was having "chest pains" and is now "struggling to breath" as a result of a "lung infection."
Sorry folks this isn't much of a diary, but I'm too heartbroken to write much more. When a frail 92 year old man is hospitalized with chest pains and a lung infection, this makes me think this isn't good. And despite the government's and family's assurances, the South African public and media has become fixated on the vigil outside the hospital.
Media keep watch outside Mandela's hospital
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South Africa Stands Vigil as Mandela Remains Hospitalized
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South Africa is holding its collective breath today, the second day of former President Nelson Mandela's hospitalization, a visit officials are calling "routine."
Mandela regularly sees doctors at the Johannesburg hospital but stayed overnight Wednesday, raising fearful speculation throughout South Africa that the much-celebrated national hero, now 92, may be gravely ill.
Nelson Mandela Hospitalization Raises Worries
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The Presidency called for "calm and restraint" and said, "We urge the media to afford him the dignity and respect that he is entitled to as the country's founding democratic President, as a national hero and also as a citizen of the Republic."
Nevertheless, Mandela's hospitalization gave rise to newfound speculation about the seriousness of his condition.
According to information provided to CBS News from the State Department, Mandela spent the holidays in Cape Town and returned to his hometown of Qunu on Saturday. On Sunday he returned to Johannesburg after complaining about chest pains.
He was admitted to the hospital Wednesday for a "general check-up" and was struggling to breathe properly due to a lung infection.
The former president's ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, left the hospital in tears after a visit, the Times of London and other news sources reported.
Edited for word order, spelling.