Nelson Mandela in hospital for tests, says Zuma The news of Mandela's hospitalization comes just days after the crash of a military aircraft flying on an unknown mission near Mandela's rural home in which all 11 people onboard were killed. The plane was flying to a military air base in Mthatha, which is about 30 kilometers (17 miles) north of Qunu, the village where Mandela now lives after retiring from public life.