Tzaneen: South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile was rushed to hospital on Saturday afternoon after collapsing on stage while addressing the N’wamitwa Day celebrations in Tzaneen, Limpopo province.
The incident, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, has sparked concern and speculation about the Deputy President’s health.
Mashatile, who was delivering the keynote address at the Valoyi Cultural Village, appeared to sway from side to side before losing his balance and falling behind the podium. Security personnel and medical officials quickly rushed to his aid, assisting him off the stage.
While initial reports suggested a collapse due to the scorching heat, with temperatures reaching 36 degrees Celsius, Mashatile’s office has downplayed the incident, stating that he experienced a “slight disturbance” and felt lightheaded from the heat.
“He started losing energy and slowed down. He was about to stop talking but the guys that were next to him then took him to a place to go get checked if there was anything of concern,” said Keith Khoza, Mashatile’s acting spokesperson.
“He was taken to a place where he can be checked. The medical team assigned to him gave him a clean medical bill of health [sic].”
Khoza assured the public that Mashatile is “okay” and “his usual self,” dismissing any concerns about a recurring issue.
However, videos of the incident show a clear moment of distress and a sudden loss of balance, raising questions about the nature of the “slight disturbance” experienced by the Deputy President.
Here is the Paul Mashatile collapse video…..
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Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, who visited Mashatile in hospital, confirmed that he is in good spirits and has received a clean bill of health from medical professionals.
“The deputy president is in good spirits and is fine with his medical team. I’m satisfied because we checked his vitals. There’s no reason for South Africans to panic because Mashatile is fine,” she said.
Ramathuba attributed the incident to the intense heat and urged residents to stay hydrated.
“The heat in the area is too much and could have contributed to Mashatile’s situation. We advise people to drink lots of water as we are losing lots of water in our bodies due to the heat,” she said.
The Presidency has also issued a statement confirming that Mashatile received necessary medical attention and is well.
The N’wamitwa Day commemorates the inauguration of Her Royal Highness Hosi Dr N’waMitwa II, a pioneer woman and traditional leader among the Vatsonga people. The event, which took place on 29 August 2008, signifies the advancement of gender equality and non-discrimination in the country.
