Johannesburg -
Former President Nelson Mandela looks set to spend Christmas Eve in hospital as the presidency said no new updates were available on his condition on Monday morning.
Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj said a previous statement about Mandela's health that was issued on the weekend still stood.
The report said that Mandela continued to respond to treatment as his stay in a Pretoria hospital extended into its third week.
Mandela, 94, was originally flown to a hospital in Pretoria from his Eastern Cape home at Qunu on December 8. He was diagnosed with a lung infection and also underwent gallstone surgery.
His current stay in hospital is his longest since he was freed over two decades ago.
Mandela has a history of lung problems having suffered from tuberculosis towards the end of the 27-years he spent in prison.
On Saturday, President Jacob Zuma asked South Africans to pray for the global icon after paying him a visit.
“We urge South Africans to continue praying for our beloved Madiba during this period. Our hearts are with the whole family and relatives.” - Sapa