Doctors have not indicated when ailing Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang will be discharged from hospital, her spokesperson said on Monday.
”The doctors have not given us an indication yet of how long she needs to be in the hospital,” said spokesperson Sibani Mngadi, adding that Tshabalala-Msimang ”still needed further medical attention”.
The minister remains stable in a private room in the general ward at Johannesburg General Hospital where she is not receiving visitors as requested by her family, said Mngadi.
She was moved to the general ward from the high-care ward during the first weekend of March.
Earlier on Monday, the Presidency said that President Thabo Mbeki had not met Tshabalala-Msimang’s husband to discuss relieving her of her duties due to her ill health.
”The report that claims that whatever was discussed at a meeting is false because the meeting never took place,” said spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga.
City Press newspaper reported on Sunday that Tshabalala-Msimang’s husband, Mendi Msimang, had asked Mbeki to relieve the minister of her duties due to her health problems.
It reported that Msimang, who is the African National Congress treasurer, held at least one meeting with Mbeki to discuss his wife’s health. It said that Msimang refused to comment on his request to Mbeki, but did not deny it.
Mngadi said on Monday he did not know about the request.
Last month, Mbeki appointed Transport Minister Jeff Radebe as acting health minister while Tshabalala-Msimang recovers.
Tshabalala-Msimang was admitted to the Johannesburg General Hospital last month and was treated for anaemia and pleural effusion, an abnormal accumulation of fluid around the lungs.
Mbeki has resisted calls from opposition parties for the health minister to be removed from office due to her failing health. — Sapa