Nelson Mandelas health improving President Zuma

13 June 2013 Last updated at 15 51 ET

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The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse says a lack of detail has raised public concerns about Nelson Mandela's condition

Former South African President Nelson Mandela's health continues to improve but his condition remains serious President Jacob Zuma has said.

After visiting Mr Mandela in hospital Mr Zuma urged people to keep him in their prayers .

The 94 year old is spending his sixth day in the Pretoria hospital suffering from a recurrent lung infection.

He became South Africa's first black president in 1994 after leading the struggle against white minority rule.

He stepped down five years later.

'Long standing problems'

In a statement on Thursday Mr Zuma urged South Africans to wish Mr Mandela a speedy recovery .

The brief statement provided no further details.

Continue reading the main story Start Quote

Mr Mandela's failing health is an intensely personal issue for many of those now involved in the distressing task of managing the flow of information from a Pretoria hospital bed to a waiting world

End Quote Andrew Harding Africa correspondent Read more from Andrew Nelson Mandela's illness Defending his dignity

Earlier Mr Mandela's grandson and family heir Mandla said the family had been deeply touched by the concern shown for Mr Mandela's health.

Mr Mandela's wife Graca Machel has been at his bedside regularly since calling off a trip to London last week.

His daughter Zenani who is the ambassador to Argentina has also returned to South Africa to visit him.

Mr Mandela has been in intensive care since he was taken to hospital on Saturday for the third time this year.

In December he spent 18 days undergoing treatment for a lung infection and gallstones.

Before being admitted to hospital Mr Mandela had been ill for some days at his Johannesburg home with a recurrence of his long standing lung problems the president's office said on Tuesday.

Mr Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for his role in the fight against apartheid and is believed to have suffered damage to his lungs while working in a prison quarry.

He contracted tuberculosis in the 1980s while being held in jail on the windswept Robben Island.

He retired from public life in 2004 and has been rarely seen at official events since.

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