Mandela resting in his South African home village

Former South African President, Nelson Mandela, receives a team jersey from vice president of the Barcelona football club, Aebert Perriu, unseen, at the Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Wednesday, June 20, 2007. The team is in the country to play against South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria Wednesday night. (AP Photo / (AP Photo/Siphiwe Sibeko, Pool))

  SOUTH AFRICA (WABC) -- South Africa says former President Nelson Mandela is resting in his home village on his first trip since being briefly hospitalized earlier this year.

In a statement Monday, President Jacob Zuma says, "We are pleased that he is now well enough to travel." Zuma says Mandela left Johannesburg Sunday for Qunu, in southern South Africa, accompanied by family and by medical and security personnel.

Mandela, who turns 93 in July, has retired from public life. He spent two nights in a Johannesburg hospital in January to be treated for a respiratory infection.

Mandela became the country's first black president after serving 27 years in prison for his fight against racist rule.

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