Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel was admitted to a private Pretoria hospital on Thursday after experiencing lower back pains.
The Mail & Guardian received a tip-off on Thursday from a source who saw Manuel being wheeled out of the operating theatre of the Netcare Pretoria East Hospital just after 11am.
‘He was asleep and had a drip attached to his arm,†the witness said.
He added that Manuel was accompanied by two of his [Manuel’s] staff members. His wife, Absa chief executive Maria Ramos, was not seen at the hospital.
Sources at the hospital confirmed to the M&G that Manuel experienced severe lower back pains and received a light anesthetic before being injected in the operating theatre by surgeon Etienne Coetzee.
‘He was injected next to the spine. I’m not sure how serious his back pains were,†said a hospital source.
When the M&G phoned Manuel on Thursday he was awake and lucid.
”I don’t talk to journalists and you must never phone this number again,” said Manuel, who is known for his hot temper.
He is expected back at the office in the Presidency on Friday.
Manuel visited his specialist on Wednesday who advised him to come back for an injection this morning.
After exiting the theatre, Manuel recuperated in the maternity ward of the hospital to keep him away from the public.
Those close to him say it was a ”small procedure” and he was only taken up in hospital for the day.
He visits the gym regularly and leads a fairly healthy lifestyle, those around him say.
”He has no history of health problems that we know of,” said an associate of Manuel’s.
The Presidency is expected to release a statement on Manuel’s hospital visit later today.