Mandela responding to medication, treatment, officials say

Johannesburg - Former South African President and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela is to "respond to medication and treatment," but doctors are concerned about the number of people visiting him, the country's acting president said in a statement Monday.

Mandela, 92, was released from a Johannesburg hospital on Friday after treatment for acute respiratory infection, South Africa Surgeon General Veejay Ramlakan said.

The team led by Mandela deals Ramlakan, said he was "calm and relaxing night" Sunday night, President Kgalema Motlanthe said.

"President Mandela is said to respond to medication and treatment," the statement said. "The close monitoring and care 24 hours a team of specialists is continuing."

However, Mandela's doctors are "concerned about the number of visitors," said Motlanthe. "Once again, we use everything that gives the former president and his family to support him in the privacy space and dignity they deserve. Physicians should also be able to do their work without undue pressure and in an environment that allows them to continue their duties without any disturbance. "

South Africa National Defence Force established communication "with the Madiba clan chiefs to inform them of his condition and continues to receive support," said Motlanthe. Madiba is the clan name of Nelson Mandela, who remains popular in South Africa.

"We will continue to keep the country, our people and friends around the world informed of developments," statement said Motlanthe. "... We want to take this opportunity to thank all our friends and colleagues around the world their continued support for President Mandela and his family and assure them that we will do our utmost to ensure it recovers. "

The former president was taken to hospital last week to Cape Town where he was vacationing.

Reports that he was in the hospital raised concerns about the world. Southern Africa, city officials urged calm, saying Mandela "suffers from problems common to the people of his age."

"Clinically, there is no need to panic," Motlanthe said last week. "Mandela is suffering from ... circumstances have evolved over the years. Remember that it was suffering from tuberculosis, while on Robben Island and has a history of respiratory infections."

Mandela was imprisoned for decades, Robben Island off Cape Town.

The former president rarely makes public appearances. His last appearance was at the closing ceremony of the World Cup in South Africa during the summer. He recently published a new memoir, "Conversations with myself."

The Nobel Peace has spent 27 years in prison after being convicted of sabotage and attempting to overthrow the government under the apartheid regime in South Africa of old. He was released in 1990 and became president four years later.