Surgeon General Vijay Ramlakan confirmed on Friday that Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota had suffered a heart attack on Wednesday.
”He was alone in his official residence in Cape Town when the incident happened. Minister Lekota experienced extreme discomfort and pain but was nevertheless able to summon help from Staff Sergeant Andre Salamat,” he told reporters.
Ramlakan explained that Lekota was immediately attended to by Dr Harold Adams of the presidential medical team before being transported to the Claremont hospital.
Lekota was then transferred to the Gatesville medical centre where he underwent an ”invasive cardiological procedure”.
”He has responded well to the procedure and continues to improve hour by hour,” Ramlakan said at a Friday-night press briefing at the medical centre in Athlone.
He said Lekota will be moved to 2 Military hospital as soon as his condition allows.
”We are extremely fortunate that he has suffered no other complications whatsoever. He is out of bed and … sitting up and doing much better than I expected,” Ramlakan said, noting that he will advise President Thabo Mbeki that the minister requires at least three weeks’ rest.
His condition will be monitored closely. — Sapa