Mandela Released From Hospital (Really, This Time)

Former South African President Nelson Mandela has been discharged from Pretoria hospital and will continue having treatment at home, current South African President Jacob Zuma said via a statement released on Sunday.

"Madiba's condition remains critical and is at times unstable," Zuma's office said, using the apartheid hero's clan name. "Nevertheless, his team of doctors are convinced that he will receive the same level of intensive care at his Houghton home that he received in Pretoria."

The former president will continue to be treated in his Johannesburg home, which "has been reconfigured to allow him to receive intensive care there." Even "the health care personnel providing care at his home are the very same who provided care to him in hospital."

False reports caused a media frenzy Saturday, when sources close to Mandela told the BBC that the former president had already left the hospital, only to be awkwardly contradicted by the president's office later that day.

Mandela was hospitalized on June 8 with a lung infection and has remained there in critical condition — at one point being placed on a ventilator — until now. He even celebrated his 95th birthday from the Pretoria hospital.

"Despite the difficulties imposed by his various illnesses, he, as always, displays immense grace and fortitude," the statement said.

"We now call on all to allow the former President and his family the necessary private space so that his continuing care can proceed with dignity and without unnecessary intrusion," the office added.

Mandela — whose battle against apartheid and social injustice brought him a joint Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 — left the public eye in 2004, and has had to be hospitalized four times since December.

Of course, people in the social media are already reacting to the good news, with #Mandela trending on Twitter.

#Mandela Houghton home - lots of activity here after #Madiba arrives home. Still critical but will receive 24hr care pic.twitter.com/czxWWMdeYs— Debora Patta (@Debora_Patta) September 1, 2013

Nelson #mandela has returned home from hospital. This man has the best genes— Jack Clarke (@jacky_boy91) September 1, 2013

One of the greatest #lfc supporters has been discharged from hospital. #madiba magic http://t.co/2HFC7pkdna #mandela— LFCZA (@LFCZA) September 1, 2013

Its a shame #Mandela has to see the way the peace prize @BarackObama will be starting an invasion of #Syria for #FSA #KSA. #America #TcT— Bruno (@GamerOps) September 1, 2013

[Image: One Change via Flickr]