South African pop icon Brenda Fassie’s condition has become worse since her admission at the Sunninghill hospital late last month, her family said on Friday.
”The family is saddened to inform fellow South Africans that Brenda’s general medical condition is now deteriorating rapidly,” the Fassie family said in a statement.
”And we have been advised that there is nothing more that the doctors can do to reverse her condition.”
The family said Brenda, however, continues to breathe spontaneously with the help of a ventilator.
”The family has decided to leave the matter in God’s hands. We ask fellow South Africans to continue to pray for Brenda,” it said.
Fassie has been in a coma at the Sunninghill hospital since April 26 after suffering an asthma attack that led to cardiorespiratory arrest.
Doctors resuscitated her but she fell into a coma.
Called the ”Madonna of the townships”, Fassie is admired for her golden voice. She is noted in the music industry for being one of the biggest sellers the country has ever produced.
President Thabo Mbeki, former president Nelson Mandela, Cabinet ministers and other high-profile South Africans have all visited Fassie at the hospital to support her.
Mandela, who visited Fassie on Wednesday, said: ”She is a determined lady and she has shown her determination to survive.”
On Friday, her family said the medical team — a specialist physician, a neurosurgeon and a neurophysiologist — attending to her have completed their investigations into Brenda’s neurological condition, and it has not improved.
Her manager, Peter Snyman, earlier on Friday said the doctors do not have much hope.
”Her condition has actually deteriorated. All what the doctors can do now is to keep her comfortable,” Snyman said. — Sapa