WINNIE Madikizela-Mandela has urged South Africans to pray for ailing former president Nelson Mandela - and for President Jacob Zuma's government.
With the country anxiously watching updates on Madiba's latest hospitalisation, his former wife told Sunday World this was a "painful time" for her family.But, in an apparent swipe at the man currently trying to fill her former husband's shoes, Madikizela-Mandela said: "South Africa has never needed so many prayers. The country is going through a difficult time. We need to pray for government. It has lots of problems. Our soldiers were killed recently (in Central African Republic), look at Marikana ... something has seriously gone wrong.
"We should remember that not only our family needs prayers but families of the soldiers that died in the Central African Republic, Marikana victims and the women and children that are being abused."
Mandela's former wife had joined fellow congregants at her Methodist church in Soweto this week to pray for Madiba.
The former president has been in hospital since late Wednesday - after being sick for a few days at his home in Houghton.
An update from presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj yesterday said Mandela was making progress.
Maharaj said the latest hospitalisation was due to a reoccurrence of pneumonia.
"Doctors advise that due to the lung infection former president Mandela had developed a pleural effusion which was tapped. This has resulted in him now being able to breathe without difficulty. He continues to respond to treatment and is comfortable," Maharaj said.
He had undergone a procedure to drain fluid from his lungs to enable him to breath on his own.
Earlier this week Zuma broke from the tradition of assuring the public that Mandela's health was fine. In comments to the BBC that could be interpreted as preparing the country for the eventuality of Mandela's passing, Zuma said: "In Zulu when someone passes away who is very old, people say he or she has gone home. I think those are some of the things we should be thinking about."
When asked about Zuma's remarks, Maharaj yesterday told SundayWorld that Mandela was 94 going on 95 and that the president was reflecting on a reality that at some point "we will all leave this world. In our own traditions we talk about death ... Madiba will remain with us even if he passes on."
Madikizela-Mandela said the family was extremely touched and humbled by the prayers for Madiba.
Said Madikizela-Mandela: "The country is going through a difficult time and the Christian fraternity has to lead the way in prayers."
Madiba first contracted tuberculosis when he was detained on Robben Island.
This is the second time this month that Mandela has been hospitalised, and the third time since December when Mandela was treated for another lung infection and underwent gallstone surgery.
