Pretoria – The Presidency has rejected media reports that former President Nelson Mandela is in a vegetative state at the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria.
Madiba was admitted to the hospital on 8 June with a recurring lung infection.
“We confirm our earlier statement … after President Jacob Zuma visited Madiba in hospital that Madiba remains in a critical, but stable condition. The doctors deny that the former President is in a vegetative state,” said the Presidency in a statement.
It said the former President has been and remains under the care of a multi-disciplinary panel of South African medical experts drawn from the South Africa Military Health Services, the public sector, the universities and the private sector. Under this panel, a team of doctors, nurses, paramedics and other health professionals attend to Madiba on a 24 hour basis.
Meanwhile, the Presidency also said that Zuma would not be attending the 2013 Vodacom Durban July. He has also not authorised anyone to use his name to raise funds at the event.
“The Presidency wishes to caution people about unauthorised use of the President's name,” it said. – SAnews.gov.za
