Former President Jacob Zuma still in hospital: JGZ Foundation

Former President In High Spirits Inside Hospital Lounge as Foundation Drops Explosive Accusations Against Cabinet Officials

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Inside a hospital in Pietermaritzburg, former President Jacob Zuma is out of bed, dressed, and sitting in the ward’s lounge in high spirits as he continues his recovery.

Speaking in a televised studio interview, Mzwanele Manyi, the official spokesperson for the Jacob Zuma Foundation, confirmed that the former head of state is fully alert, walking around, chatting, and joking with those around him.

Mzwanele Manyi directly refuted false public reports claiming that Jacob Zuma was rushed to the facility in critical condition inside an emergency medical vehicle.

“There’s no ambulance that took President Zuma to hospital”, Mzwanele Manyi stated, confirming that Jacob Zuma arrived at the Pietermaritzburg medical facility using his standard security convoy.

The Foundation spokesperson expressed public gratitude toward the South African Broadcasting Corporation for maintaining humane broadcast standards and avoiding the media frenzy surrounding the hospital.

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Mzwanele Manyi acknowledged the widespread national concern and extended gratitude to various political party leaders, church delegations, and Cape Town Archbishop Thabo Makgoba for sending personal well-wishes.

Both President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile formally communicated their well-wishes to Jacob Zuma following news of his admission.

However, Mzwanele Manyi immediately launched a fierce public attack against the executive authority, calling their messages of support completely hollow and performative.

Mzwanele Manyi demanded that President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile demonstrate tangible care by fully implementing the 2009 Cabinet Policy regarding the upkeep of former presidents’ estates.

The spokesperson revealed that the government actively maintains the private residences of all other former presidents while deliberately neglecting Jacob Zuma‘s estate at Nkandla.

“They don’t maintain Nkandla”, Mzwanele Manyi declared, highlighting that the property is an officially designated National Key Point that requires mandatory security assessments and structural maintenance under federal regulations.

Mzwanele Manyi called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to severely reprimand Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson for ignoring the state’s legal obligations toward Nkandla.

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During a intense exchange with the television anchor regarding the distinction between security features and general maintenance, Mzwanele Manyi argued that structural upkeep directly impacts site security.

“Some of the security features that must be maintained are actually mounted on nonsecurity features”, Mzwanele Manyi explained.

Mzwanele Manyi pointed out that Minister Dean Macpherson relies blindly on the 2014 Public Protector report while ignoring cracked walls that cannot physically support surveillance cameras.

The spokesperson emphasized that overgrown grass at Nkandla presents an extreme security risk because potential intruders can easily hide, while unpruned trees actively block the line of sight for security cameras.

Beyond property neglect, Mzwanele Manyi exposed severe safety hazards concerning Jacob Zuma‘s official vehicular protection detail.

Mzwanele Manyi revealed that Jacob Zuma is forced to travel in the oldest and most embarrassing transport fleet among all former living state leaders.

The official vehicles assigned to Jacob Zuma repeatedly suffer violent tire bursts, frequent engine overheating, and severe mechanical breakdowns on public roads.

The mileage on Jacob Zuma‘s assigned fleet drastically exceeds the mandatory 120,000-kilometer limit explicitly set by the 2009 Cabinet Policy framework.

Mzwanele Manyi insisted that the official messages of support from President Cyril Ramaphosa remain entirely meaningless as long as Jacob Zuma is left with failing vehicles that break down while he attempts to perform his duties.

The spokesperson declared that Jacob Zuma is consistently treated like a stepchild by the current administration, confirming that the Foundation is deeply angered by this systemic mistreatment.

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Mzwanele Manyi explicitly distanced the Foundation from sensationalized public claims made by an individual purporting to be Jacob Zuma‘s brother who stated that the former president was in critical condition.

Explaining the internal reporting chain, Mzwanele Manyi detailed that Jacob Zuma is guarded by the Presidential Protection Unit, which reports directly to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

When Jacob Zuma was admitted to the Pietermaritzburg hospital, the specialized security detail and medical team immediately briefed President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Surgeon General.

Because the medical assessment confirmed that the situation was not dire, President Cyril Ramaphosa correctly chose not to make public noise regarding the hospitalization.

Addressing questions about Jacob Zuma‘s upcoming schedule and potential appearance at the uMkhonto weSizwe Party manifesto launch ahead of local government elections, Mzwanele Manyi declined to issue absolute guarantees.

Mzwanele Manyi clarified that even without health considerations, Jacob Zuma manages numerous competing daily meetings, meaning his physical presence at any specific event depends on shifting priorities.

Concluding the broadcast interview, Mzwanele Manyi promised the news anchor that once Jacob Zuma is fully recovered and ready to engage with journalists, his first media appearance will be granted exclusively to the network.

SABC News

Former President Jacob Zuma still in hospital: JGZ Foundation

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