Cablegate: South Africa: Defmin in Icu but Stable After

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS PRETORIA 004521

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR S/ES-O, P, AF, AF/S, AF/RSA, PM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL SF
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA: DEFMIN IN ICU BUT STABLE AFTER
PRESUMED HEART ATTACK

1. (SBU) Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota is in stable
condition in the intensive care unit of Aslone Hospital in
Cape Town after suffering an apparant heart attack the
morning of November 10th.

2. (SBU) Ministerial Head of Communications Zambodla told
DATT the minister is showing signs of recovery and likely
will be moved to a larger and more convenient facility once
the initial 24-hour stabilization period was over. Zambodla
reported Lekota became ill early that morning and told his
staff he felt pooly and needed to go to the hospital. They
immediately rushed him to Aslone, where hospital staff
informed them the Minister was having a heart attack and
admitted him to the ICU.

3. (SBU) NavAtt is currently on TDY in Cape Town and will
monitor Lekota's condition. DATT and DepPolCouns have
expressed USG concerns, good wishes and willingness to assist
to Lekota's staff in Cape Town and to the Defence Secretariat
in Pretoria. PolCounselor expressed the same sentiments to
DFA USA Office Director.

HARTLEY

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