Songs of praise for Mandela after successful gallstones operation

President Jacob Zuma led delegates of the African National Congress in song as they opened their Mangaung convention, being held in the city also known as Bloemfontein. The song, in Zulu, calls out: “The journey is long, ... Mandela told his followers that we’ll meet on freedom day.”

In his address, Mr Zuma also touched on Mr Mandela, who has been in hospital since December 8 for tests while receiving treatment for a lung infection. He also underwent a successful gallstone surgery on Saturday. “He is receiving good care from a competent and caring medical team,” Mr Zuma said. “We wish him and the family all the best during this time.”

Mr Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president, was admitted to a hospital in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, the government has said. At first, officials said Mr Mandela was undergoing tests and later they acknowledged he had been diagnosed with a lung infection.

The Nobel laureate has a history of lung problems, after falling ill with tuberculosis in 1988 toward the tail-end of his 27 years in prison before his release and subsequent presidency. While doctors said at the time the disease caused no permanent damage to his lungs, medical experts say tuberculosis can cause problems years later for those infected.

On Saturday Mr Mandela underwent endoscopic surgery to remove gallstones, a procedure in which a patient usually receives sedatives and an anaesthetic to allow a surgeon to put an endoscope down their throat, authorities say. The surgeon then can remove the gallstones, which are small, crystal-like masses that can cause a person tremendous pain.

Mr Mandela’s nine-day hospital stay, his longest since leaving prison in February 1990, has sparked increasing concern about a man who represents the aspirations of a country still struggling with race and poverty.