South African President Jacob Zuma has shot down conflicting reports that former president and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela has been discharged from the hospital.

Zuma used Mandela's clan name -- Madiba -- to refer to the 95-year-old world icon. Mandela has been in a Pretoria hospital since early June.

"Madiba is still in hospital in Pretoria, and remains in a critical but stable condition," Zuma said in a statement. "At times his condition becomes unstable, but he responds to medical interventions."

According to the BBC, the rumor could have started because Mandela may be on the verge of leaving the hospital. A source close to the family has told NBC News that Mandela's family is making preparations to transfer the former president to his home.

Mandela has suffered recurring lung issues stemming from his days of hard labor in limestone quarries during most of his 27-year prison sentence. Mandela was sentenced to life in prison after trying to overthrow the racist National Party; he was released in 1990 after apartheid was finally abolished.

Mandela has been in the hospital several times since his release from prison, but his current stay has been the longest, by far. He was rushed to the hospital in early June and made it safely despite the fact that his ambulance broke down.

Mandela was the nation's first black president and the first democratically elected president; he served as the president of the nation from 1994 to 1999. Mandela was also named the president of the African National Congress during the 1950s, just as the apartheid system was intensifying.