A military ambulance taking former president Nelson Mandela to hospital for emergency treatment broke down on a motorway, it was revealed this weekend, forcing him and his doctors to wait for up to 40 minutes in the cold. The story was confirmed by South Africa’s presidency on Saturday.

President Mandela, 94, was being taken from his home in Johannesburg to hospital in Pretoria in the early morning of June 8 after his doctors decided he needed intensive care for a recurring infection.

The military ambulance had an engine problem and broke down. Mr Mandela and his team of doctors from South Africa’s Department of Defence, which handles the care of all former heads of state, is reported to have had to wait for up to 40 minutes for a replacement vehicle to arrive.

“NO HARM” CAUSED TO MANDELA SAYS SPOKESMAN

A statement from President Jacob Zuma’s office at the weekend said all care was taken to ensure that Mandela was not adversely affected by the “unforeseen incident”.

“Doctors are satisfied that the former president suffered no harm during this period,” Mac Maharaj, a spokesman for the presidency, said.

WHAT IS SOUTH AFRICA COMING TO?

Accidents happen, say the Kenya Forum and even ambulances can breakdown but what is South Africa coming to if takes 40 minutes to come to the rescue, especially when the man to be rescued is the icon figure of Nelson Mandela!