First pictures in nine months show Nelson Mandela, 94, looking thin but sitting up and in ‘good spirits’

Nelson Mandela is 'in good shape' and 'good spirits', South African president Jacob Zuma said today.

He spoke as the first footage emerged of the 94-year-old former president since he left hospital on April 6 after suffering from pneumonia.

He spent 10 days in hospital being treated for the illness, which followed an earlier hospitalisation in December when he developed a lung infection and gallstones.

                               Recovering: Nelson Mandela was said to be in 'good spirits' but appeared expressionless on camera

It is the first public image of him since Hillary Clinton visited in her role as US secretary of state in August.

Mandela - also known as Madiba in South Africa - appears to be virtually expressionless and does not seem to react to those around him.

Mandela still in hospital

Nelson Mandela remains in hospital where he is receiving treatment for a recurrence of pneumonia.

The former South African president was admitted to a hospital in the capital, Pretoria, near midnight on Wednesday.

Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said there had been no updates on the 94-year-old since an official statement on Saturday on his condition.That reported the anti-apartheid leader was breathing without difficulty after having a procedure to clear fluid in his lung area.

It was his third trip to hospital since December, when he was treated for a lung infection and had a procedure to remove gallstones.Earlier in March, he spent a night in a hospital for what officials said was a scheduled medical test.