Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang’s condition remained stable six days after her liver transplant, her doctor said on Monday.
”She is stable and doing well,” said Professor Jeff Wing, the minister’s physician for the past four years.
Wing said there was no sign of rejection of the transplanted organ. ”Usually if there is a rejection, it occurs just before day five.”
Tshabalala-Msimang was awake but sedated, he said.
Doctors told a press conference on Friday that Tshabalala-Msimang was expected to stay in the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre’s intensive care unit for about 10 days.
This would be followed by a month-long recuperation in hospital.
It would then take about five to six months before she could return to work.
Transport Minister Jeff Radebe was appointed acting Health Minister in late February following Tshabalala-Msimang’s readmission to Johannesburg hospital.
The minister was readmitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit on February 20, following hospitalisation for a lung ailment last year.
Presidency spokesperson Thabang Chiloane said the appointment of Cabinet ministers was the decision of President Thabo Mbeki.
Ministers had previously acted for long periods, such as in the case of former Transport minister Dullah Omar, he said.
”The appointment of the executive is entirely the president’s call. He will make the call if he thinks otherwise,” Chiloane said.
”Until the president sees otherwise, the minister [Radebe] will act.”
Professor Ernie Song told Friday’s press conference that Tshabalala-Msimang suffered from cirrhosis, or extensive scarring and damage to the liver.
This had forced her blood to find alternative channels back to the heart, leading to veins in her oesophagus and gullet dilating.
Wing said there were ”perhaps 10 000 causes” of cirrhosis, of which hepatitis B was the most common. – Sapa