Ramaphosa wishes former president Zuma a speedy recovery after hospital stay

President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished former president Jacob Zuma a quick recovery after confirming that the 84-year-old is receiving medical treatment in hospital. Ramaphosa spoke to reporters on Friday and said doctors had placed Zuma under care. He also noted that the military surgeon general had been briefed on the condition.

Zuma was taken to a private clinic in Pietermaritzburg earlier this week. Local reports say an ambulance brought him to the facility after he fell ill. Ramaphosa did not give details about the illness or the exact treatment. He simply stated that Zuma had not been well and was now under the care of doctors.

“We wish him a very quick recovery, and we want him to be well, and up, and continuing to serve the people of South Africa in whichever way,” Ramaphosa said. The comments were carried by the national broadcaster.

Zuma’s party, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, has described the hospital visit as a routine medical check-up. Party officials said the former president remains healthy and in good spirits. They added that he undergoes full check-ups twice a year, including blood tests, and that his programme would continue as planned. Some family members and hospital sources have given a different picture, saying he remains under observation and that arrangements for further care were being considered.

Zuma served as president from 2009 until 2018. He stepped down after his own party, the African National Congress, pushed him to resign amid a series of corruption scandals. He later formed the MK Party, which finished third in the 2024 national elections and took a large share of votes from the ANC, especially in KwaZulu-Natal.

At 84, Zuma has stayed active on the campaign trail for local government elections. His health has drawn attention before. In 2023 he travelled to Russia for treatment of an undisclosed condition. This week’s hospital stay has again raised questions about how much public duty he can still handle.

Ramaphosa’s message struck a careful tone. He acknowledged the former president’s past service while keeping the focus on recovery. No official update on Zuma’s condition has come from the hospital or the presidency beyond the confirmation that treatment is under way. South Africans will watch for further word from either the family or the MK Party in the coming days.

Source: https://x.com/SABCNews/status/2108663936404848727

Apogee-Point feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com