{
  "id": 13753543,
  "title": "Presidency urges respect for Zuma’s medical privacy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/presidency-urges-respect-for-zumas-medical-privacy",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-11T16:27:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/presidency-urges-respect-for-zumas-medical-privacy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Presidency is requesting that the public show respect for former President Jacob Zuma's medical privacy, as questions persist about his health. During a media briefing in Pretoria, Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni stated that President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered the Surgeon General to oversee Zuma's medical care. However, Ntshavheni emphasized that only Zuma's medical team can provide details regarding his condition, and only with his consent. She clarified that Zuma's status as a former head of state does not negate his right to medical confidentiality. \"I need to indicate the health status of Baba Zuma. He is under the care of the Surgeon General, and you know the ethical requirements,\" Ntshavheni explained. \"Only his medical doctors can pronounce on his health status and medical conditions, with his consent. Nobody should continuously ask us to comment on his health status. He is being treated by the doctors. The President has also assigned the Surgeon General to lead that process. Therefore, we must leave those questions to the medical team, the family, and President Zuma.\"",
  "summary": "Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says Cyril Ramaphosa's asked the Surgeon General to oversee Jacob Zuma's care",
  "key_points": [
    "Former President Jacob Zuma's medical privacy requested",
    "President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered Surgeon General to oversee care",
    "Only Zuma's medical team can disclose health status with consent"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Ntshavheni urges privacy as Zuma receives specialist care in KZN",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/ntshavheni-urges-privacy-as-zuma-receives-specialist-care-in-kzn",
        "published": "2026-10-11T11:43:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}