Johannesburg ( CNN ) -- Nelson Mandela on Saturday morning underwent endoscopic surgery to have gall stones removed , President Jacob Zuma 's office said in a statement . The procedure was successful and Mandela , who has been hospitalized since last weekend due to a recurring lung infection , is recovering , the statement said . Mandela has not appeared in public since the 2010 World Cup hosted by South Africa . The former president gets round-the-clock care since abdominal surgery this year and an acute respiratory infection in 2011 . The Nobel Peace Prize laureate spent 27 years in prison for fighting against oppression of blacks in South Africa . He became the nation 's first black president in 1994 , four years after he was freed from prison . Despite his rare appearances , Mandela retains his popularity and is considered a hero of democracy in the nation . Read more : Nelson Mandela has lung infection . Just last month , South Africa launched a new batch of banknotes with a picture of a smiling Mandela on the front . The new 10 , 20 , 50 , 100 and 200 rand banknotes all feature pictures of the global icon .
Nelson Mandela has successful surgery says , president 's office . Mandela has not appeared in public since the World Cup . Nobel Peace Prize winner spent two years in prison .