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Report: Nelson Mandela In ‘Permanent Vegetative State’

07.04.13 | 10:39 am

Former South African President Nelson Mandela reacts at the Mandela foundation, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday June 2, 2009, during a meeting with a group of American and South African students as part of a s... Former South African President Nelson Mandela reacts at the Mandela foundation, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday June 2, 2009, during a meeting with a group of American and South African students as part of a series of activities leading to Mandela Day on July 18th. MORE LESS

Court documents show that doctors treating South African civil rights icon Nelson Mandela said he was in a “permanent vegetative state” and advised his family to take him off life support, Agence France-Presse reported Thursday.

“He is in a permanent vegetative state and is assisted in breathing by a life support machine,” said a court filing dated June 26 obtained by AFP. “The Mandela family have been advised by the medical practitioners that his life support machine should be switched off.”

Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj would not give comment to AFP on the 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,” he told AFP.

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Catherine Thompson Catherine Thompson is a writer covering systems of power, gender, and politics. She previously served as an editor at the Cut, Business Insider, and Talking Points Memo.

Report: Nelson Mandela In ‘Permanent Vegetative State’

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