Former South African President Nelson Mandela is in a "very critical'' condition on life support, according to his daughter, Makaziwe Mandela.

"Anything is imminent, but I want to emphasise again that it is only God who knows when the time to go is,” Makaziwe Mandela said, as cited by The Telegraph.

"I won't lie. It doesn't look good," she said. But "if we speak to him he responds and tries to open his eyes - he's still there."

The anti-apartheid hero’s granddaugter, Ndileka Mandela, said Mandela's family were taking comfort from messages of support from the public.

South Africa's first black president has been in hospital in Pretoria since 8 June with a lung infection.

His health has worsened in recent days, prompting current President Jacob Zuma to cancel a foreign visit. He has now arrived back at the hospital.

Emotional crowds continue to gather outside the hospital, the BBC informs.