Nelson Mandela: Family gather at Johannesburg home Published duration 5 December 2013

image caption Nelson Mandela was in hospital for nearly three months

Increased activity has been seen around the Johannesburg home of Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president, who has been very ill.

Family members have gathered two days after Mr Mandela's eldest daughter said he was putting up a courageous fight from what she called his "deathbed".

He spent nearly three months in hospital with a lung infection.

Mr Mandela, 95, led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison.

The BBC's Mike Wooldridge, who is outside Mr Mandela's home in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton, says it appears to have been an unusually large family gathering on this occasion.

Among those attending was family elder Bantu Holomisa,

A number of government vehicles were there during the evening as well, our correspondent says.

The South African presidency has repeatedly described Mr Mandela's condition as critical but stable.

He has been receiving intensive home-based care since he was released from hospital in September.