President Jacob Zuma visited the anti-apartheid leader Wednesday evening.
"We are encouraged that Madiba is responding to treatment and urge the public to continue providing support and showering him with love which gives him and the family strength," Zuma said in a statement that referred to Mandela by his clan name.
Mandela was hospitalized June 8 for what the government said was a recurring lung infection, and his condition has been critical for over two weeks.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate's 95th birthday is on July 18 and his foundation's Twitter feed is asking people to join in the volunteer-day initiative.
