South Africa's apartheid hero, Nelson Mandela, is now unable to talk but is free of his life support, according to his ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, reported The Sunday Independent newspaper.

After nearly three months in hospital for a lung infection, he was discharged from the hospital in Sept 1 to his home at Johannesburg's upmarket Houghton suburb.

Mr Mandela now only uses facial expression to communicate.

Ms Madikizela-Mandela told the newspaper that he was not able to utter words "because of all the tubes that are in his mouth to clear [fluid from] the lungs. He can't actually articulate anything. He communicates with the face, you see. But the doctors have told us they hope to recover his voice."

She said that there are 22 doctors attending to Mr Mandela's care. He was already cleared of pneumonia, but his lungs remain vulnerable.

"It is difficult for him. He remains very sensitive to any germs, so he has to be kept literally sterile. The bedroom [in Houghton] is like an ICU ward. He is 95 years old and it is difficult for him, because of all the tubes that are in his mouth to clear the (fluid from his) lungs, and prevent an infection recurring." "But the doctors have told us they hope he will be able to recover his voice," she shared.

"He remains quite ill, but thank God the doctors were able to pull him through from that (last) infection. I have heard this nonsense that he is on life support. He is not," she said.

She said that being taken care of at the comforts of his own home makes Mr Mandela relaxed and hopeful for recovery.

"When he is very relaxed, he is fine and it has given us a lot of hope."

Ms Madikizela-Mandela's update on her ex-husbands health came days ahead of the set release of a film inspired by Mr Mandela's autobiography titled Long Walk to freedom.

On the other hand, Ms Madikizela-Mandela also published a book, featuring her prison diaries titled 491 Days: Prisoner Number 1323/69 .

She was hopeful that Mr Mandela will recover fully to be able to watch the film and read the book.

"Of course, I wish he could read the book, but I really wish he could see the film," she said.