Nelson Mandela's health is "steadily improving" according to South Africa's presidency.
The anti-apartheid legend is today celebrating his 95th birthday, and his 15th wedding anniversary, in hospital.
In a statement, the government says "Madiba remains in hospital in Pretoria, but his doctors have confirmed that his health is steadily improving".
President Jacob Zuma wished Mandela a 'joyous' 95th birthday.
The South African Presidency has been tweeting reports about the improvements in Mandela's condition:
Madiba is steadily improving http://t.co/pqcjKSQwIX
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) July 18, 2013
President Zuma will visit Madiba at 10.15 this morning at the hospital ahead of the SA-EU Summit
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) July 18, 2013
His family insists he is making "remarkable" progress in hospital.
Random acts of kindness
South African biker gangs will clean streets, volunteers will paint schools and politicians will spend 67 minutes on worthy projects - to mark Mr Mandela's 67 years of public service today.
Children in schools around the country will start the day by singing "Happy Birthday" to Mr Mandela, who also marks 15 years since he married his third wife Graca Machel.
The UN declared the Nobel peace laureate's birthday Mandela Day in 2010, but for many this year it takes on extra poignancy.
Mr Mandela has spent the last 41 days in a Pretoria hospital in a critical but stable condition after being admitted for a recurring lung infection.
Birthday tributes
US President Barack Obama also urged people to honour Mr Mandela on his birthday "through individual and collective acts of service".
"Through our own lives, by heeding his example, we can honour the man who showed his own people - and the world - the path to justice, equality, and freedom," Mr Obama said.
