South African President Thabo Mbeki underwent medical tests at a hospital this week after suffering a bout of the flu, but he is in good health and expected to return to work shortly, officials said.
Mbeki (64) cancelled an appearance in Parliament in Cape Town on Wednesday after complaining of flu-like symptoms. He underwent an angiogram and other medical tests at the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria on Thursday.
”I wish to report that all tests show that the president is in a normal state of health. After a few days of rest, the president should be able to fully resume his duties,” surgeon general Vejay Ramlakan said in a statement.
A presidential spokesperson described Mbeki as being ”very well”.
An angiogram is normally performed to check the condition of a person’s arteries. During the procedure, doctors insert a catheter into the groin and feed it through an artery to the heart, allowing them to check for constrictions.
Questions about Mbeki’s health have surfaced from time to time since he succeeded Nelson Mandela in 1999 as South Africa’s second black president. Some political observers have commented that Mbeki, who has a reputation as a workaholic, has looked tired in some of his recent public appearances.
Leon wishes Mbeki speedy return to health
Meanwhile, Mbeki has been wished a ”speedy return to health” and to office by official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Tony Leon.
In a statement on Friday, Leon said: ”I was very sorry to learn of President Mbeki’s ill health and also reports that he underwent cardiac tests, including an angiogram.”
He noted reports in Friday’s edition of the Cape Town newspaper, Die Burger, to this effect.
Leon said: ”I am sure I speak for all South Africans of all political persuasions in stating that we wish Thabo Mbeki a very speedy return to health and to office. In this regard I am sure that we unite together across our normal divide of politics and community.”
Leon, who himself has undergone a heart by-pass operation, said: ”I hope he will accept from me a modest personal testimonial to the fact that cardiac procedures are absolutely no bar to a total return to a full and busy political life.” — Reuters and I-Net Bridge