Jacob Zuma Foundation denies reports he has been discharged from hospital

The Jacob Zuma Foundation has dismissed reports that former president Jacob Zuma has been discharged from hospital and is preparing to return to his Nkandla homestead.

Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi confirmed that the reports were untrue, as questions continue to surround the 84-year-old MK Party leader’s health.

“Reports that H.E. President Zuma has been discharged are not true,” Manyi said.

Zuma has been receiving treatment at Netcare St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, after arriving by ambulance last week.

Zuma’s health sparks speculation

The former president’s hospitalisation has prompted widespread speculation, with some reports suggesting his condition had deteriorated significantly.

Sources close to the MK Party leader have reportedly described his health as being at a concerning stage. However, the foundation has previously pushed back against what it considers excessive speculation about his condition.

The MK Party previously described Zuma’s hospital visit as a routine health check, saying he was healthy and in good spirits.

The conflicting reports have fuelled public interest in the former president’s condition, although the latest statement from the foundation confirms only that he has not been discharged.

Foundation criticises media coverage

Earlier this week, Manyi condemned what he described as a media frenzy surrounding Zuma’s health, accusing some coverage of being driven by rumours and misinformation.

He questioned whether the intense public attention reflected genuine concern for the former president or was being driven by other motives.

Manyi also challenged President Cyril Ramaphosa’s expressions of concern, arguing that support for a former head of state should be demonstrated through practical measures.

He raised issues including the maintenance of Zuma’s Nkandla homestead through the relevant public works structures and the replacement of his ageing vehicle fleet.

On social media platform X, Manyi also compared the treatment of Zuma with that of late former president Nelson Mandela after Mandela left office. He shared photographs of the government’s arrangements for Mandela as part of his criticism.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson responds

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, criticised Manyi’s comments, accusing him of creating unnecessary conflict at a sensitive time.

“You are being irresponsible, and you are creating conflict where none exists. This is not the time for petty politics, Chief,” Magwenya said.

Ramaphosa has previously acknowledged that Zuma has not been well and said the military’s surgeon-general had been kept informed.

For now, the Jacob Zuma Foundation has rejected claims that the former president has been discharged. Further updates on his condition have not been confirmed in the statement.

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Source: The Citizen