MBOMBELA – A veil of secrecy has encloaked the real extent of Mpumalanga premier Mr David Mabuza’s health.
Today marks the 26th day that he has been “resting” and both government and the ANC have sent the media from pillar to post trying to ascertain Mabuza’s condition.
This is amid rumours that the 54-year-old Mabuza is indeed very sick and may have suffered a stroke.
By yesterday morning rumours were rife that he had indeed died.
He had officially first fallen ill on September 7. On the same day he was examined at Mediclinic Nelspruit and transferred to an unknown hospital in Gauteng for treatment.
The official diagnosis is that the first citizen is suffering from fatigue.
His office, through his spokesman Mr Zibonele Mncwango, at the time denied that Mabuza had collapsed and said he had no knowledge of the premier being treated in Gauteng.
Later he confirmed Mabuza was discharged and recuperating at home.
A reliable source said that Mabuza’s wife, Ms Patience Mnisi, was seen at the Garden Court Milpark Hotel in Johannesburg on Monday morning, sparking more speculation about his whereabouts.
The first signs that something was wrong emerged when Mabuza fell over at one of the events during his week-long birthday celebrations at the end of August. Paramedics attended to him on the scene.
New rumours about his deteriorating health starting circling this week when claims were made that Mabuza had also collapsed at a recent ANC branch meeting.
Lowvelder again sent enquiries to Mncwango and the provincial ANC to enquire about Mabuza’s health and exactly what he was being treated for.
When pressurised yesterday to comment, the newspaper was told that all enquiries had to be directed to the acting premier, Mr Vusi Shongwe.
Late yesterday Mabuza’s spokesman reacted to the questions and confirmed that Mabuza was ill and still on sick leave but that doctors “were satisfied with his condition”.
He further added: “We can’t further comment on his condition as it is a confidential matter between him and his doctors.”
The release refuted all claims that Mabuza was “confused and not alert” and said statements that he has died were “insensitive, vicious, malicious and damaging. It should be remembered that Mabuza is not only the premier, but also a husband and father to his family.”
Meanwhile, the operations of the provincial ANC is continuing. The party’s spokesman, Mr Sibusiso Themba confirmed that Mpumalanga’s elective conference was expected to go ahead later this month.
