Nelson Mandela Recovering Well

Nelson Mandela is getting "much better" and responding satisfactorily to treatment for pneumonia, the South African presidency said on Wednesday, a week after the frail anti-apartheid icon was hospitalised.

The charismatic 94-year-old is steadily improving and doctors are happy with his progress, President Jacob Zuma's office said in a statement.

"His doctors say he continues to respond satisfactorily to treatment and is much better now than he was when he was admitted to hospital on the 27th of March 2013," it said.

"He has been visited by family and continues to make steady progress."

No details were given in the short statement on a possible release from the undisclosed hospital where he is being treated.