President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula to rest after he suffered a health scare during a media briefing, saying he will only return to work when he is fully recovered.
Ramaphosa provided an update on Mbalula’s condition, reassuring the public that the senior ANC leader was expected to return to work after recovering.
“He had a little bit of a health situation, but he’s recovering and going to be back at work,” Ramaphosa said.
The President added that he had personally instructed Mbalula not to resume his duties until he and the doctors were satisfied that he was well enough.
“I ordered him to rest and said, ‘You’re not going back to work until I and the doctors are satisfied. I’m a doctor also by marriage. Only when I am satisfied that you are fully okay,’” Ramaphosa said.
Mbalula’s health scare came during a media briefing at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, where he became emotional while discussing the ANC’s legal battle over its municipal election candidate lists.
The incident interrupted the briefing and prompted concern about his well-being. The ANC subsequently said he was receiving medical attention.
The Constitutional Court had ruled in the ANC’s favour in a dispute involving 181 candidates who had been excluded from contesting the November 4 local government elections. The ruling cleared the way for the candidates to be included on the ballot.
Mbalula had described the pressure surrounding the dispute, saying the prospect of voters being unable to vote for the ANC’s candidates had kept him awake at night.
IOL News