Nelson Mandela health: Zuma reassures South Africa

President Jacob Zuma has sought to reassure South Africans as Nelson Mandela is treated for the recurrence of a lung infection.

In an interview with the BBC, Mr Zuma said that people "must not panic" and that the former president was doing "very well" so far.

The 94-year-old was admitted to hospital before midnight on Wednesday.

He spent 18 days in hospital in December undergoing treatment for a lung infection and gallstones.

In a statement released earlier, Mr Zuma's office said the ex-leader was "responding positively" to treatment.

The presidency has not identified the hospital where Mr Mandela is being treated.

Speaking to the BBC's Lerato Mbele, Mr Zuma said people should "slow down the anxiety".

"Of course I have been saying to people, you should bear in mind Madiba is no longer that young and if he goes for check-ups every now and again, I don't think people must be alarmed about it. I would like to really say the country must not panic," Mr Zuma said.

Mr Mandela retired from public life in 2004 and has been rarely seen in public since.

His main home is in Qunu, a small rural village in Eastern Cape province, where he says he spent the happiest days of his childhood.

However, doctors said in December he should remain at his home in the Johannesburg neighbourhood of Houghton to be close to medical facilities.