PRETORIA, South Africa - Preparations are being made so that Nelson Mandela could be transferred from hospital to his own home should his condition improve, sources close to his family said Saturday.
The 95-year-old democracy icon and former president of South Africa was admitted to hospital on June 8 with a recurring lung infection.
Family sources said preparations were underway at Mandela’s home, near Johannesburg, for the eventuality of a possible move – but doctors remain concerned that his poor health means such a transfer is too risky.
Media reports that Mandela had already been moved were dismissed Saturday by the country’s presidency.
“The Presidency has noted incorrect media reports that former President Nelson Mandela has been discharged from hospital,” said spokesman Mac Maharaj in a statement.
“Madiba is still in hospital in Pretoria, and remains in a critical but stable condition. At times his condition becomes unstable, but he responds to medical interventions.”
His lung infection is attributed to the manual labor he was forced to perform while he was a political prisoner in South Africa nearly three decades.
NBC News' Alastair Jamieson contributed to this report.
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