MBOMBELA – Mpumalanga premier Mr David Mabuza claims that he was poisoned.
He revealed to Sowetan this week that the cause of his illness last year, which resulted in his going on extended sick leave, was poison. He suspects he ingested this during his birthday celebrations in Bushbuckridge early in September.
Mr Zibonele Mncwango, spokesman for the Office of the Premier, said Mabuza revealed the information to journalists who spontaneously interviewed him in Pretoria along the sidelines of the ANC national executive committee (NEC) lekgotla.
“We are therefore unable to give more details on the nature of the poison used, specific people he believes are behind his ordeal and the relevant information around the investigation as the honourable premier is still currently at the ANC NEC lekgotla.
“It is, however, common sense and our understanding that the intention for poisoning someone is none other than to kill that individual.
“We, however, wish to assure citizens that regardless, the premier is fine and is attending to his duties of government as well as of the ANC.”
Upon his return to work in November last year, Mabuza said he had been extremely ill, and had to learn how to walk again. He collapsed after his birthday party and spent two days in Mediclinic Nelspruit before being airlifted to Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg.
He was transferred to Little Company of Mary Hospital in Pretoria, while rumours that he had died started circulating.
At the time he said, “It got me thinking there are people who hate themselves to that point of making other people believe that something has happened, knowing very well that something has not happened.
“Of course there are those people in the party who are saying they are annoyed by a third term and all that.”
The DA says the infighting in the ANC could potentially cripple the province economically and otherwise.
The party’s provincial leader Mr James Masango pointed out that Mabuza’s admission was in contrast with his office’s persistent insistence that he “was fine” and “resting at home”.
“This infighting has completely taken away the government’s focus, which is to provide essential services to the people of Mpumalanga.
“All this bickering within the ANC hugely affects service delivery in Mpumalanga. Not a week goes past without news of service-delivery protests in the province.
“This will not stop unless we bring about change in this leadership by voting them out of power.”
The ANC Mpumalanga did not respond to the paper’s request for comment.
