Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has warned against continued questioning of former president Jacob Zuma’s health, saying his medical condition is a private matter that should be left to his doctors, family, and President Cyril Ramaphosa, as speculation over his hospitalisation fuels questions about the future of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.
Speaking about Zuma’s condition yesterday, Ntshavheni said the former president was under the care of the Surgeon General, who had been assigned by Ramaphosa to oversee the process.
“I need to indicate on the health status of Baba Zuma. He is under the care of the Surgeon General, and you know the medical requirements. It’s only his medical doctors that can pronounce on his health status and health conditions with his consent,” she said.
Ntshavheni said the public should not expect the government to repeatedly comment on Zuma’s condition, warning that his political standing did not justify an intrusion into his privacy.
“The fact that a person holds a particular position in society does not entitle us to violate his privacy.”
Zuma’s hospital stay has nevertheless drawn attention to the MK Party’s succession plans and its ability to survive beyond its founder, amid reports linking his health to contingency planning involving the military.
Zuma was admitted to Netcare St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg last week.
The party’s national office previously described the admission as a routine medical check-up, which it said Zuma undergoes twice a year. It said he was “healthy and in good spirits” and that his campaign would continue.
His son, Duduzane Zuma, the party’s first deputy president, also sought to reassure supporters at a rally last Friday, insisting that his father remained the party’s leader and would contest the 2029 general elections.
“He is indeed with us. He will be here as a presidential candidate in 2029, leading the MK Party to a two-thirds majority nationally,” Duduzane said.
However, reports suggesting that Zuma’s condition was serious have intensified speculation about the political consequences of his possible departure from the leadership.
Some media outlets reported that a military deployment to KwaZulu-Natal, publicly linked to violent anti-immigration protests in Durban, could also serve as a contingency in the event of Zuma’s death.
The MK Party’s KwaZulu-Natal leadership has rejected the claims, warning that speculation connecting the deployment to Zuma’s health could fuel public anxiety and political uncertainty.
Provincial elections spokesperson Mkhuseli Mlengane called for credible, verifiable evidence to support any claims linking military deployments to the former president’s condition.
“Journalism should inform the public — not create alarm through speculation about the death of a living political leader,” he said.
While the party has sought to calm concerns about Zuma’s health, political analyst Professor Musa Xulu said the situation had highlighted a broader question about whether the organisation was prepared for a future without its founder.
Xulu said the MK Party lacked a clear succession plan and argued that its challenges stemmed not only from its reliance on Zuma but also from the circumstances surrounding its establishment and the absence of clearly defined political objectives.
“Zuma made a mistake during the establishment of the party in 2023. Even a stokvel is not formed in this way. By forming it without any policy which was going to clearly spell out its objectives, the party is bound to die after him,” Xulu said.
Although Duduzane’s appointment as first deputy president could indicate that he was being positioned for a future leadership role, Xulu questioned whether he had the political experience and authority required to succeed his father.
“Duduzane is not a politician; he is charming and the youth like him, but he would not command the authority his father has. He is more of a businessman than anything else,” Xulu said.