Public interest in Zuma’s health ‘does not override privacy’, says Ntshavheni

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Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has called on society and the media to be wary of invading former president and MK Party leader Jacob Zuma’s privacy amid ongoing speculation about his health.

She said even if a person holds or has held a position of power, that does not mean their privacy should be invaded.

This comes after reports that Zuma was admitted to a KwaZulu-Natal hospital on Tuesday after apparently taking ill earlier in the day.

Sowetan’s sister newspaper, the Sunday Times, reported that those close to the family said Zuma remained in a critical condition at St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg after falling ill during an MK Party electioneering drive in Msinga. The hospital section in which the former president is being treated has been put under lockdown, and only family members and his inner circle have been allowed in and out.

Briefing the media, Ntshavheni said Zuma was under the care of the surgeon-general.

“I need to indicate the health status of uBaba Zuma. He’s under the care of the surgeon-general, and you know they met the ethical requirements,” she said.

“It’s only his medical doctors that can pronounce on his health status and health conditions with his consent.”

Ntshavheni said President Cyril Ramaphosa had assigned the surgeon-general to lead the process but declined to provide further details about Zuma’s condition.

“He’s being treated by the doctors. The president has also assigned the surgeon-general to lead that process, and therefore we must leave those questions to the medical team, the family, and president Zuma.

“So there’s nobody who must be continuously asking us whether we must comment about his health status,” Ntshavheni said.

“And you should know that it’s a violation of privacy. The fact that a person holds a particular position in society does not entitle us to violate his privacy.”

Ntshavheni’s comments come amid conflicting reports about Zuma’s health.

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