By Siphiwe Sibeko

Nelson Mandela (Photo credit: Festival Karsh Ottawa)

South Africans prayed and waited on Thursday after another downturn in the condition of ailing anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela forced President Jacob Zuma to cancel a trip to neighboring Mozambique.

Zuma had been due to attend a summit in Maputo of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to discuss regional infrastructure, but pulled out after visiting the 94-year-old former president in hospital late on Wednesday.”Over the past 48 hours, the condition of former president Madiba has gone down,” presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj told state broadcaster SABC, using the clan name by which Mandela is affectionately known.On Thursday morning, Mandela’s eldest daughter Makaziwe led a group of his grandchildren to see the retired statesman in the Pretoria hospital where he has been receiving treatment since June 8 for a lung infection.

Makaziwe told SABC radio after her visit that Mandela was responding to touch.

“I won’t lie, it doesn’t look good. But as I say, if we speak to him, he responds and tries to open his eyes. He’s still there. He might be waning off, but he’s still there,” she said.

Read More South Africa waits after Mandela’s condition worsens | Reuters.