JOHANNESBURG — An ambulance carrying Nelson Mandela to a hospital two weeks ago had engine trouble, so the 94-year-old was transferred to another ambulance for his journey to the hospital, the South African government said Saturday.
Care was taken to ensure the condition of the former president was not affected, it said.
The anti-apartheid leader remains in serious but stable condition in a hospital, according to the office of President Jacob Zuma.
The government confirmed reports about transport problems when the former leader was taken to the hospital for what officials have said is a recurring lung infection. CBS News reported that Mandela had to be transferred in wintertime temperatures to another ambulance in the early morning of June 8 after waiting on the side of the highway for 40 minutes.
The government said in a statement that doctors are satisfied that the Nobel Peace Prize laureate suffered "no harm" at the time.
Mandela was taken from his home in the Johannesburg neighborhood of Houghton to a hospital in Pretoria, the capital, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) away.
"The fully equipped military ICU ambulance had a full complement of specialist medical staff including intensive care specialists and ICU nurses. The convoy also included two quick response vehicles," the presidency said. "When the ambulance experienced engine problems it was decided that it would be best to transfer to another military ambulance which itself was accompanied for the rest of the journey by a civilian ambulance."
The statement added: "All care was taken to ensure that the former president Mandela's medical condition was not compromised by the unforeseen incident."