President Jacob Zuma has wished Winnie Madikizela-Mandela a speedy recovery “on behalf of government and the nation”.
The presidency said in a statement that Madikizela-Mandela, “a stalwart and courageous heroine of the South African struggle for liberation” had been admitted to hospital and was in a stable condition.
“We wish Mama Winnie a speedy recovery. We also urge the nation to keep her and the Mandela family in their thoughts and prayers during this time,” Zuma said.
According to media reports, Madikizela-Mandela, 79, was hospitalised in March following complications from surgery she underwent.
It was not clear what she was being treated for.
Earlier this month, the Mthatha High Court dismissed Winnie’s claim for the late Nelson Mandela’s Qunu home.
Mandela bequeathed the Qunu property in the Eastern Cape to the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Family Trust for the benefit of the Mandela family‚ including his third wife Graca Machel and her children.
But Winnie said the property had been given to her by the tribal authority while Mandela was still in prison and that she had not anticipated that that land would be given to Machel.
She also claimed their customary marriage was never dissolved, and that gave her full rights to the property as Mandela’s wife.