Mandela, who was admitted to a Pretoria hospital for a recurrence of lung infection at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning, was able to breathe on himself, presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said.

　　"What I am told by doctors is that he is breathing on his own and I think that is a positive sign," Maharaj said.

　　Maharaj said earlier that Mandela, 94, was in a "serious but stable" condition.

　　During the past few days Mandela has had a recurrence of lung infection and early Saturday morning his condition deteriorated, Maharaj said.

　　Doctors were doing everything they could to make Mandela "better and comfortable", Maharaj said.

　　Political parties have sent well-wishes to Mandela for his speedy recovery.

　　"We send to him our well wishes for a speedy recovery so that he may soon be discharged to return to the care and comfort of his home," the ruling African National Congress (ANC) said. "The ANC hopes and trusts that (former) president Mandela and his family will be afforded the necessary respect and privacy while he is in hospital, we have no doubt that Tata (father) will continue to receive expert medical care and attention at this time, " ANC's national spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said.

　　The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) wished the medical team that is with him "all the strength in dealing with his condition". "Nelson Mandela is a father to South Africa and South Africans, every time he is admitted to hospital we feel saddened along with the rest of the country," said DA spokesperson Mmusi Maimane.

　　The SA Communist Party, while extending support to Mandela and his family, called for respect of their privacy at this time.

　　The Congress of South African Trade Unions said its members were thinking of Mandela at this time and wished him well.

　　Mandela has been hospitalized several times this year. In early March, he was admitted to a Pretoria hospital for a scheduled check-up and was discharged the following day.

　　Later the same month, Mandela was admitted again to a hospital for the same ailment and was discharged nine days later.

　　Mandela's lung infection was the result of tuberculoisis developed when he was in prison under the apartheid rule. The anti- apartheid hero was elected the first black president in 1994 after the end of apartheid.