Former South African President Nelson Mandela has spent a second night in a row in hospital.

However South African officials were keen to stress there is no need to panic and that the 92-year-old suffers only "from ailments common to people of his age."

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said: “Medically there is no need to panic. Mandela suffers from… conditions that have developed over the years.”

He added: “We may recall that he has suffered from tuberculosis whilst on Robben Island and has had previous respiratory infections.”

A spokesman for the African National Congress said the former president was undergoing routine tests and urged the media to “refrain from making unfounded and unwarranted speculation.”

Photo: © Rex