South Africa’s Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, experienced a health scare on Saturday after collapsing during a public event in Tzaneen, Limpopo Province.
Mashatile was delivering a speech at the N’wamitwa Day celebrations when the incident occurred.
The event, held under intense heat conditions, saw Mashatile suddenly collapse in front of the audience.
Officials close to the Deputy President have attributed the collapse to dehydration, caused by the heatwave sweeping across the region.
His team immediately took action, moving him to a safe area where medical personnel could attend to him.
Despite earlier reports that Mashatile had been rushed to the hospital, his spokesperson, Keith Khoza, confirmed that he did not require hospitalization.
Khoza assured the public that the Deputy President was “fine” and out of danger.
He clarified that the situation was under control and that Mashatile’s collapse was primarily due to heat and dehydration.
Limpopo Premier, Phophi Ramathuba, also provided updates on the Deputy President’s condition.
She informed SABC that Mashatile had received immediate medical care and was in good spirits.
“We’ve had to move him to an area where the medics can be given an opportunity to take care of him, which we have done,” Ramathuba said.
She refrained from disclosing the specific location where Mashatile was taken for treatment, emphasizing that the main concern was his health.
“As to where it is, I don’t think it is necessary for you and I to know,” she added.
“What is important for you to know is that the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa is in good spirits. He is fine.”
Mashatile’s collapse came during an important public address where he expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the Giyani Water Project.
In his speech, delivered just before the health incident, Mashatile highlighted the positive impact the water project would have on underserved communities in Limpopo.
“This project, which aims to ensure the timely delivery of reliable water services to underserved areas within the 55 villages located in the Greater Giyani Local Municipality, is well on its way to making a positive impact,” Mashatile had said.
“We are filled with hope and optimism for the future of this important initiative,” he added.
The Deputy President’s health scare quickly became a major concern, as it came during a high-profile public engagement attended by local and national leaders.
Mashatile, who has been a key figure in South African politics for several years, has a demanding schedule that often takes him to various regions of the country.
