"He is doing very well," Nelson Mandela's daughter told reporters on Monday outside the hospital where the noble laureate has been staying for the 10th day.

Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, the oldest daughter of Mandela and ex- wife Winnie, made the comments when she was looking at flowers and child-written cards outside the Pretoria hospital.

Earlier on Monday, Graca Machel, the current wife of Mandela, issued a statement to thank the support across the world outside the hospital, without comment on his health.

Monday marked the first time for the family to communicate with media workers.

Zenani was the second family member commenting on the condition of the former president of South Africa. Mandla, the grandson of Mandela, had said twice that the situation was getting better.

Mandela, 95 next month, was sent to hospital for a serious condition of recurring lung infection on June 8, his fourth hospital stay in seven months.