Former South African president Nelson Mandela remained in a critical condition in hospital yesterday after being admitted more than two weeks ago with a lung infection, the government said.

President Jacob Zuma’s office said doctors were doing their best to ensure the “recovery, well-being and comfort” of the 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader, who became South Africa’s first black leader in historic all-race elections in 1994.

Madiba, as he is affectionately known, is revered among most of South Africa’s 53 million people as the architect of the transition to multi-racial democracy after three centuries of white domination.

However, his latest hospitalisation – his fourth in six months – has reinforced a realisation that the father of the post-apartheid “Rainbow Nation” will not be around forever.

A deterioration in Mandela’s health this weekend to ‘critical’ from ‘serious but stable’ has caused a perceptible switch in the national mood, from prayers for his recovery to preparations for a fond farewell.

“It would be selfish of us to expect him to live forever,” said 29-year-old Cape Town chef Andisiwe Matiwane. “We need to be mature emotionally and just let nature take its course. We would love for him to be here forever, but it is impossible.”

US President Barack Obama is due to visit South Africa this week as part of a three-country Africa tour. Zuma said on Monday Mandela’s worsening health would not affect the trip.