A young boy rests by a large picture of Nelson Mandela placed by the Union Building in Pretoria (AP)

SOUTH Africa's anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela remains in a "critical but stable" condition after nearly four weeks in hospital being treated for a lung infection, the government said today.

The update on the health of the 94-year-old former President followed a visit to the hospital by current President Jacob Zuma.

Reuters