UPDATE | Jacob Zuma ‘recovering well’ in hospital

Former president Jacob Zuma is recovering well in hospital and is in high spirits, according to the Jacob Zuma Foundation, which has appealed to the public and media to respect his privacy.

Zuma was admitted to a hospital in Pietermaritzburg last week.

The foundation has since reassured supporters about his condition while thanking members of the public for their messages of support.

Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi also expressed appreciation for the government’s statement calling for Zuma’s medical privacy to be respected.

‘In good spirits’

Speaking about the former president’s condition, Manyi said someone who had been with Zuma reported that he was doing well and remained in good spirits.

“The concern and the anxiety that is out there is warranted, so we want to underscore that,” Manyi said.

He added that, as of 15:00 the previous day, a person who had been with Zuma reported that he was “in very high spirits”.

“He’s good, he’s fine, he’s joking,” Manyi said.

According to the spokesperson, Zuma was even looking at other programmes and hoping to return to the stage to sing his well-known struggle song, Umshini Wami.

Manyi said there was no reason for alarm based on the information shared with the foundation.

Foundation appeals for privacy

The foundation also criticised journalists who have reportedly been camping outside the hospital where Zuma is receiving treatment.

Manyi urged the media to respect the former president’s privacy during his hospital stay, describing the practice of waiting outside the facility as “un-African”.

The foundation acknowledged the public’s concern about Zuma’s health but said that concern should be balanced with respect for his privacy.

It also thanked the public for the well-wishes and messages of support received since news of his hospitalisation emerged.

The government has similarly called for Zuma’s medical privacy to be respected, while the foundation says it will continue to provide reassurance about his condition as appropriate.