Johannesburg - US President Barack Obama’s visit to South Africa will go ahead as planned, President Jacob Zuma said at a press briefing.
Zuma said, at a SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) briefing, that Nelson Mandela's condition would not affect Obama's planned visit to South Africa at the end of the month.
“If there was such a visit... and somebody felt sick, I don't think we would stop the visit... So we (are) not going to stop because Madiba is sick,” Zuma said.
He said Mandela had not been well for some time, and Obama's visit could not be stopped because of this.
“So Obama is coming... ,” Zuma said.
On Sunday night, the Presidency said that Mandela was now in a critical condition in hospital.
“The condition of former president Nelson Mandela, who is still in hospital in Pretoria, has become critical,” the Presidency said.
In reply to a question about Mandela’s condition at the briefing on Monday, Zuma reiterated: “I am not a doctor... when a person is critical, he is critical... I am not in a position to say how critical... .” - Sapa