Zuma visits Nelson Mandela at his home

President Jacob Zuma visited Nelson Mandela at his Houghton, Johannesburg, home yesterday.

Mandela's former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, lifted the lid on his health at the weekend.

She denied that Mandela was on life support but said tubes used to drain fluid from his lungs made it difficult for him to speak.

Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj said Zuma conveyed to Mandela "the well-wishes of all South Africans and those of the peoples of the world".

Zuma told Mandela that he would open a permanent art exhibition called the "Life and Times of Mandela" at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory.

The centre's spokesman, Danielle Melville, said the exhibition was launched last night because November 16 to November 18 was significant for South Africa.

"On November 16 1993 Nelson Mandela and [former president] FW de Klerk agreed on the basic elements that would allow for the country's first democratic general election in 1994," Melville said.