Agence France-Presse reported Thursday that court documents dated June 26 showed Mandela was “in a permanent vegetative state and is assisted in breathing by a life support machine” and that doctors had advised his family to take him off life support. Mac Maharaj, a spokesman for the South African presidency, declined to comment on those court documents.
“We have indicated from our point of view that based on the doctors’ report the condition of the former president is critical but stable at this stage,” Maharaj said.