Media stays put at Madiba hospital

Journalists from local and international media stayed put at Pretoria's 1 Military Hospital as former president Nelson Mandela spent a fifth day at the tightly secured facility for treatment to a lung infection. Photo: AP

Journalists from local and international media stayed put at Pretoria's 1 Military Hospital as former president Nelson Mandela spent a fifth day at the tightly secured facility for treatment to a lung infection. Photo: AP

Published Dec 12, 2012

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Pretoria - Journalists from local and international media stayed put at Pretoria's 1 Military Hospital on Wednesday morning as former president Nelson Mandela spent a fifth day at the tightly secured facility for treatment to a lung infection.

After 8am, journalists had parked more than 10 vehicles at an open space overlooking the hospital’s main entrance. Camera crews were filming the hospital buildings.

Soldiers were blocking the entrance, stopping and inspecting all cars entering the premises. Journalists were camping on the side of Voortrekker Road, leading into the Thaba Tshwane Military Base on the outskirts of the city.

Two soldiers were posted close to the media contingent.

The former statesman was hospitalised over the weekend. He was flown from his home in Qunu, Eastern Cape, on Saturday, to the Pretoria facility.

The presidency said on Wednesday that the 94-year-old was suffering from the recurrence of a previous lung infection and was responding to treatment. - Sapa

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