Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang will fully resume her duties on Thursday following a three-month break she took to recover from a liver transplant, the Presidency said on Tuesday.
To kick-start her duties, Tshabalala-Msimang is expected to deliver her department’s budget vote to the National Assembly on the same day, said presidential spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga.
”President Thabo Mbeki expressed his confidence in Minister Tshabalala-Msimang’s leadership and wished her well in her duties following her period of recuperation from illness.”
Tshabalala-Msimang underwent a successful elective liver transplant at the General Hospital on March 14.
She was suffering from cirrhosis, or extensive scarring and damage to the liver, with auto-immune hepatitis.
When doctors discharged her in April, they indicated that Tshabalala-Msimang would only be able to return to work in August.
Asked why the minister was returning to work earlier than expected, Ratshitanga said: ”I’m not a doctor and I don’t think it’s any of my business to pry into people’s private matters.”
Tshabalala-Msimang spokesperson Sibani Mngadi was not immediately available for comment.
Mbeki, through Ratshitanga, also expressed his gratitude to Transport Minister Jeff Radebe, who acted as health minister while Tshabalala-Msimang was recuperating. — Sapa