Zuma’s hospital stay prompts privacy call amid conflicting reports
PIETERMARITZBURG — Former president Jacob Zuma is receiving medical care overseen by the South African National Defence Force’s surgeon-general, as government urges the public to respect his privacy amid conflicting accounts of his health. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said only his doctors could disclose his condition with his consent.
Speaking at Sunday’s inter-ministerial committee briefing on migration, Ntshavheni said President Cyril Ramaphosa had assigned the surgeon-general to oversee Zuma’s treatment. The 84-year-old has been receiving care at Netcare St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, where his admission last week prompted concern about his health and upcoming political engagements.
“The fact that a person holds a particular position in society does not entitle us to violate his privacy,” Ntshavheni said. She directed questions about his medical condition to his doctors and family, without providing a diagnosis or a timetable for his discharge.
Ramaphosa confirmed on Friday that Zuma had been unwell and was undergoing treatment. According to an AFP report carried by Jacaranda FM, the president said the military surgeon-general had been briefed and wished his predecessor a speedy recovery. His remarks confirmed that Zuma was receiving treatment but did not explain the nature or severity of his illness.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party had earlier characterised the admission as a routine medical check-up, saying Zuma undergoes such examinations twice a year. It described him as healthy and in good spirits and said his campaign programme would continue. Those assurances represented the party’s account; the reports reviewed do not contain a detailed medical statement from his treating team.
The uncertainty has also prompted a dispute over reporting that linked Zuma’s health to a possible military deployment in KwaZulu-Natal. MK provincial elections spokesperson Mkhuseli Mlengane challenged the sourcing and verification of those claims, saying they risked creating anxiety and political uncertainty. The party said it was considering approaching regulatory and oversight authorities over the coverage.
Mlengane urged supporters to remain calm and rely on official communications rather than circulate unverified information. While acknowledging the role of media freedom and accountability, he argued that claims about possible security developments required credible evidence and proper context. The material reviewed does not establish an official connection between any troop deployment and Zuma’s condition.
Zuma’s hospitalisation carries political significance because he remains the leader of the MK Party, which finished third in the 2024 national election. However, the public statements available do not establish when he will resume appearances or leave hospital. Government has confirmed the involvement of the military medical service, while leaving any further disclosure about his condition to his doctors, with his consent.
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