( CNN ) -- Former South African President Nelson Mandela was discharged from the hospital Saturday , the country 's presidential office said , `` following a sustained and gradual improvement in his general condition . '' Mandela `` will now receive home based high care , '' the statement said . The 94-year-old , who was South Africa 's first black president , was admitted to the hospital on March 27 . He has received treatment for a recurring lung infection and pneumonia . The governing African National Congress welcomed the news . `` Let us continue to keep President Mandela and his family in our prayers as he continues to receive treatment from home , '' the party said in a statement . The presidential office did not specify whether Mandela would return to his home in Johannesburg or in his childhood village of Qunu . Each home is equipped with a mini clinic that can provide 24-hour care as he continues his recovery from this bout of pneumonia . Mandela , a Nobel Peace Prize winner , has become increasingly frail over the years and has not appeared in public since South Africa hosted the World Cup in 2010 . His history of lung problems dates back to when he was a political prisoner on Robben Island during apartheid . He contracted tuberculosis during the 27 years he was imprisoned . He underwent treatment for a lung infection and had surgery to remove gallstones over the Christmas holiday in 2012 , one of his longest hospital stays since his release from prison in 1990 . President Jacob Zuma `` thanks the hard working medical team and hospital staff for looking after Madiba so efficiently , '' the statement from the presidential office said . `` He also extended his gratitude to all South Africans and friends of the Republic in Africa and around the world for support . '' Madiba is Mandela 's clan name , and how he is widely referred to in South Africa . CNN 's Per Nyberg and Robyn Curnow contributed to this report .
South Africa 's governing ANC welcomes the news of Mandela 's release from hospital . Comment: The 94-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner has become increasingly frail in recent years .