Two days after world icon Nelson Mandela was reported to have made a remarkable recovery and likely to be going home soon, the prognosis changed yesterday, with his granddaughters, Swati Dlamini and Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway, revealing that his condition was “stable but critical.”

Former South African president Thabo Mbeki on Sunday said that he expected Mandela to be discharged shortly after more than five weeks in a Pretoria hospital with a recurring lung infection.

Mbeki, who says he knows Mandela’s doctors, told a memorial service that he was expecting them to allow the country’s first black president home to recuperate. The news brought much relief across the world as Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison due to his anti-apartheid struggle, was feared to be close to death a fortnight ago.

Mandela turns 95 tomorrow and the family plans to celebrate. “We’re just going to go to the hospital. The whole family will be there, spend the day with him, have cupcakes, and just have a relaxed day with him,” Swati and Zaziwe told HuffPost Live.

•Photo shows Mandela.