JUST IN: Foundation denies reports Jacob Zuma has been discharged

The Jacob Zuma Foundation refutes claims that former South African president Jacob Zuma has been released from the hospital. The 84-year-old Zuma has been under treatment at Netcare St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, since being brought in by ambulance last week. Sources close to the MK party leader claim Zuma's health has taken a "very concerning" turn.

Reports surfaced suggesting the ex-president was discharged and would return to his Nkandla residence. However, Mzwanele Manyi, spokesperson for the Jacob Zuma Foundation, has debunked the discharge reports, stating, "Reports that H.E. President Zuma has been discharged are not true."

Speculation about Zuma's health has been rampant, with some media outlets reporting he was in critical condition. The MK party initially claimed Zuma was undergoing a routine health check and was "healthy and in good spirits." Manyi has criticized the media frenzy surrounding Zuma's health, questioning whether the intense public interest is genuinely about concern or driven by other motives.

Manyi also questioned President Cyril Ramaphosa's commitment to Zuma's well-being, suggesting the president's actions should demonstrate genuine care, such as maintaining Zuma's Nkandla homestead through public works and replacing his aging vehicle fleet.

Manyi drew a comparison between how former President Nelson Mandela was treated post-presidency and how Zuma has been treated, deeming the latter's treatment as "irresponsible." Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, dismissed the criticism as "irresponsible" and urged for an end to "petty politics," stating that Zuma has been "well briefed" by the military's surgeon-general about his health concerns. This story is ongoing.