Zuma says Mandela 'responding' to his treatment

The South Africa's president, Jacob Zuma, has visited Nelson Mandela in hospital and said that he is now recovering.

Mandela, the first black South African president, has been in hospital since tests revealed he a recurring lung infection in addition to gall stones.
Zuma urged South Africans to help keep praying for the revered 94-year-old anti-apartheid idol and elder statesman.

"He continues to respond to treatment, " Zuma mentioned on Saturday.

"We urge South Africans to keep on praying for our beloved Mandela in this hard times. Our hearts are with everyone in his house and relatives, " Zuma said in a very statement.

Zuma's spokesperson Mac Maharaj, who was jailed with Mandela on Robben Isle, declined to give details regarding the visit, saying "the focus ought to be on his health".

Mandela was admitted into a hospital in the capital Pretoria upon December 8, after being flown from his rural home in south of the country.

On December 15 he underwent successful surgery to remove the gall stones, following a outpouring of well wishes from citizens.