Winnie Mandela Madikizela, Nelson Mandela's ex-wife, visits the ailing South African anti-apartheid leader daily, comforting relatives and clearing death rumors in front of reporters, Fox News reports.

Winnie, who divorced from Nelson Mandela in 1996, has been talking to reporters since his initial hospitalization and has attempted to eliminate rumors surrounding his death.

Nelson Mandela's ex-wife recently commented on speculation that he was dead and addressed some of the inaccurate reports published by journalists around the world.  

"I honestly cannot put in words how hurt the family was. It was one of the most insensitive things for anyone to have done," Winnie told Britain's ITV News.

"Nobody knows him better than I do and it is extremely painful to see him going through what he's going through now," she added. "But it is God's wish."

Winnie, who was a staunch anti-apartheid activist, married Nelson Mandela in 1958 and was by his side in 1963 when he was on trial for treason.

She was also with Nelson Mandela when he was released from a life sentence in prison in 1990.

Winnie dealt with a series of scandals, including a 1991 conviction for the kidnapping of 14-year-old child activist Stompie Moeketsi, who was killed by her private vigilantes three years earlier, Fox News also reports.

The condition of former South African leader Nelson Mandela is "still critical but stable," NPR reports.

Nelson Mandela has been in a Pretoria hospital since June 8 with a lung infection. He is currently 94 years old.