It's exam day in Nelson Mandela's hometown.

But in this rural settlement on South Africa's Eastern Cape, school children have more than studies on their minds.

This is where the former president, now recovering in a Pretoria hospital for a recurring lung infection, attended school as a boy.

And students just want to see him well.

"How can I say? He brought us future, he brought us light, he brought us everything that we have."

Mandela left this place at age 23 for Johannesburg.

Today, there's a museum dedicated to the man who would later become the leader of anti apartheid.

In Soweto, residents sent their well wishes to the man they fondly call Madiba.

"He spent most of his time with South Africans, I think it's Madiba time now."

"I wish you well Tata, I mean we are all behind you and praying for you."

The 94-year-old Mandela was admitted to hospital Saturday and is responding better to treatment.