Cape Town – The African National Congress (ANC) has urged South Africans to keep former president Jacob Zuma “in their thoughts and prayers” after he underwent a surgical procedure over the weekend.
The ANC said this on Sunday, as it wished Zuma a speedy recovery.
“The ANC wishes its former president, who is also former president of the republic, Jacob Zuma a speedy recovery following confirmation by the Department of Correctional Services that he under went a surgical procedure… while other procedures have been scheduled for the coming days,” News24 quoted ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe as saying.
Zuma, who early this month was moved from prison to a health facility, underwent surgery on Saturday, and will stay in hospital for further procedures.
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“Mr Zuma underwent a surgical procedure on Saturday, 14 August 2021, with other procedures scheduled for the coming days,” the correctional services department announced in a statement, saying it could not predict a discharge date at yet.
The 79-year-old was admitted to hospital for observation on August 6 for an undisclosed condition, and he has remained there.
His long-running corruption trial over an arms deal dating back more than two decades was last week postponed to next month pending a medical report declaring Zuma’s fitness for trial.
Last month, Zuma began serving a 15-month jail sentence in a separate case – for snubbing a commission probing state corruption under his 2009-2018 presidency.
Meanwhile, the Jacob Zuma Foundation has also released a statement, saying they had received messages of “love, support and concern for the well-being of president Zuma”.
The Foundation is inundated with messages of love, support and concern for the wellbeing of H.E President Zuma.
All these messages are well received and appreciated.
Prayers and respecting the Correctional Services statement below will assist to manage anxieties.?? pic.twitter.com/1W6XZLIGKC— JGZuma Foundation (Official) (@JGZ_Foundation) August 15, 2021
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Additional reporting by AFP
