( CNN ) -- South African President Jacob Zuma urged his countrymen Monday to keep the ailing Nelson Mandela in their prayers . `` He remains an important symbol of our struggle for liberation and of the successful transition from apartheid colonialism to a non-racial and democratic society , '' Zuma said in a New Year message to the nation . Read more : 2012 New Year message by President Jacob Zuma . `` We should continue to keep the Mandela family in our thoughts and prayers until Tata has fully recovered . '' Mandela is sometimes affectionately known as 'Tata , ' or father in the Xhosa language . Last week , Mandela was discharged from a hospital and will continue receiving treatment at his home in Houghton , a Zuma spokesman said at the time . On Friday , Mandela 's granddaughter Zaziwe Manaway told CNN that there 's no truth to social meida rumors that he 's close to death . Read more : Mandela is at home and alert , wants rumors about death to stop , relative says . `` That is absolutely not true . My grandfather is well , '' she said . `` It can be very , very hurtful for us to hear these messages out there in the social media that our grandfather is going to go home to die . It is insensitive . '' Mandela , 94 , was treated for an acute respiratory infection in 2011 . He was hospitalized for a lung infection on December 8 ; and on December 15 , he underwent surgery for removal of gallstones . Read more : Mandela in hospital for tests 'consistent with his age ' Mandela has not appeared in public since the 2010 World Cup hosted in his country . During the time of apartheid in South Africa , Mandela was convicted of sabotage and was imprisoned for 27 years until 1990 . He and former President F.W . de Klerk , who dismantled apartheid , shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 . A year later , Mandela became the nation 's first black president . South Africa last month issued banknotes bearing the picture of Mandela . Read more : South Africa launches banknotes with Mandela image . Despite his rare public appearances in recent years , Mandela retains his popularity and is considered a hero of democracy in the nation . South Africans celebrated his 94th birthday in July by participating in good deeds nationwide to honor the legacy of the famous statesman . Citizens performed at least 67 minutes of public service on his birthday , a reference to the number of years he devoted to helping others . Mandela 's impact has extended far beyond the borders of his own country . After he left office in 1999 , he was involved in international situations ranging from conflicts in Africa to the Mideast . In January 2000 , he addressed the United Nations Security Council , appealing for help in ending the brutal civil war between ethnic Hutus and Tutsis in Burundi . In December 2003 , he participated in the signing of the Geneva Accords for peace in the Middle East . A bronze statue of Mandela was unveiled in Parliament Square in London in 2007 , and in 2009 the United Nations designated July 18 as Mandela Day for that year . Read more : No African leader deemed worthy of leadership award .
Zuma has undergone a series of treatments recently . The 94-year-old former president was discharged from the hospital 2010 . Mandela will continue receiving treatment at his home , Mandela says . He has not appeared in public since London hosted the World Cup in last week .