Nelson Mandela 'Has Stopped Talking'

In December 2012, Nelson Mandela, then 94, was flown from his rural home in Qunu in the Eastern Cape to a hospital in Pretoria, prompting a fresh wave of global anxiety about the anti-apartheid icon's health. A South African newspaper quoted an unnamed person close to the family as saying: "He has not been talking ... he is not looking good. It's clear that something is troubling him."

What happened?

Mandela spent a second day at the Pretoria hospital undergoing tests. No details were released about the reason for his admission or when he would be discharged. President Jacob Zuma visited and, according to a statement, "found him comfortable, and in good care."

His spokesman, Mac Maharaj, insisted the 94-year-old was "doing well" and would "receive medical attention from time to time which is consistent with his age."

Why the alarm?

Mandela's health had been frail for years, and every hospital visit triggered the same cycle: official reassurance versus whispered dread. This time the signals were mixed. Former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and daughter Zindzi attended a Soweto football derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs on the Saturday, suggesting the family did not view it as an emergency. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe cancelled a planned Friday visit to Qunu.

Adding to the unease, a South African military plane had crashed days earlier en route from a Pretoria air base to Mthatha, the nearest airport to Qunu, killing all 11 on board. Rumors swirled, never confirmed, that the aircraft had been carrying medical personnel or supplies for Mandela.

The context

Mandela had last been hospitalized in February 2012 for what was described as routine tests but turned out to involve a minor procedure for abdominal pain. His last public appearance had been at the 2010 FIFA World Cup final in Johannesburg, where he toured the stadium on a golf cart with his wife Graca Machel.

South Africa's alliance partners tried to stay calm. The Congress of South African Trade Unions said it hoped "there is no cause for concern or alarm," as the presidency claimed.

FAQ

How old was Mandela in December 2012? 94. He would die a year later, on December 5, 2013, at 95.

Which hospital? A military hospital in Pretoria; he had been flown in from Qunu in the Eastern Cape.

What was wrong with him? Officials never gave specifics at the time, describing the stay as tests consistent with his age. He was later treated for a recurring lung infection.

Why is he called Madiba? It is his Xhosa clan name, used affectionately across South Africa.

The takeaway

Every Mandela health scare followed the same script: the world held its breath, the presidency soothed, the family carried on. In December 2012 the breath was held and released. A year later, it would not be.