OHANNESBURG (AFP) – South Africa's ailing former president Nelson Mandela has flown to his birthplace on his first trip outside Johannesburg since leaving hospital in January, the presidency said Monday.
"Former president Nelson Mandela is spending some time resting at his home in Qunu in the Eastern Cape," the president's office said.
"We are pleased that he is now well enough to travel," President Jacob Zuma said.
Media reports said the frail 92-year-old, who has been receiving round-the-clock home-based medical care, had told his family last week that he wanted to go home.
Before his arrival, five aircraft including a military medical helicopter were seen at the rural Mthatha airport.
Mandela later arrived in a Boeing accompanied by his wife Graca Machel, the reports said. The elder statesman was then transferred by a specially designed wheelchair-lift truck to a waiting ambulance, according to The Times newspaper.
Those who saw Mandela said he appeared to be happy and chatted to youngsters, asking about their school progress, The Times reported.
A medical aircraft hovered above a 12-vehicle convoy as he was transported to his residence.
He was welcomed home by his grandson Mandla Mandela and senior members from his clan.
It was the first time the iconic leader left his Johannesburg home since leaving hospital after receiving two days of treatment for an acute respiratory infection.
Monday's statement from Zuma's office did not give reasons for his unexpected trip, describing it as "a normal scheduled visit."
"We thank the public and the media for granting him privacy in the last three months, and we urge them to continue to do so," the statement said.
Last week, Mandela voted from home for local government elections, with Zuma saying he appeared to be in "good spirits" after he visited him.
It was the first time that he voted at home, in a special arrangement for the infirm.
Mandela was elected the country's first black president in South Africa's first all-race vote in 1994 and served one term before stepping down in 1999.
His January health scare had the country on tenterhooks following a media blackout on his condition, which was initially said to be a "routine check-up".
In the run-up to his 93rd birthday on July 18, the Nelson Mandela Foundation established after he withdrew from public life in 2004 has called for the world to observe "Mandela Mondays" by doing volunteer work on Mondays.
People are asked to give a small amount of their time every week to do a good deed to benefit their fellow human beings, the community or the environment in which they live.
Mandela has previously hosted lavish birthday celebrations at his rural homestead but in the past two years he has chosen to mark the day with family and close friends.
In 2009, the United Nations declared July 18 Nelson Mandela International Day, on which the former president has urged people to donate 67 minutes -- representing his years of serving people -- of their time to do good deeds.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner was last seen in public at the closing ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg in July 2010.
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