CAPE TOWN -- The ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday defended its visit to former President Nelson Mandela, saying the visit "was in the public interest.”

The visit "should never be used for political opportunism or to mask what we believe is the fear of South Africans to accept that (former) President Mandela is mortal and aged,” ANC national spokesman Jackson Mthembu said.

Top ANC leaders, along with President Jacob Zuma, on Monday visited Mandela who was recovering from a recurring lung infection at his home in Johannesburg.

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) broadcast the visit, showing Madela sitting in a chair with a blanket over his legs, flanked by President Jacob Zuma, his medical team and several senior members of the ANC .

The ANC said after the visit that Mandela was in "good shape” and responding to his treatment.

Zuma told the SABC that Mandela "is really up and about, (and) stabilized.”

"We are very happy, we think he is fine,”Zuma said.

Agencies