Minister of Employment and Labour Thembelani Nxesi has been admitted to
hospital due to COVID-19, becoming the second cabinet minister to be
hospitalised for the same disease in South Africa, the government said on
Tuesday.
Nxesi was admitted to hospital on Monday night after testing positive for the
coronavirus almost a week ago, government spokesperson Phumla Williams said
in a statement.
The minister had, until last night, been in self-quarantine at home, according to
Williams.
“His admission to hospital comes on the advice of his medical doctors, in order
for him to have access to better medical attention and proper monitoring,” said
Williams.
Earlier on Monday, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe
was also admitted to hospital due to COVID-19.
Mantashe had been under self-isolation at home after testing positive for COVID-
19 a week ago.
“We wish both Nxesi and Mantashe well and a speedy recovery,” Williams
added.
In addition to Nxesi and Mantashe, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Mapisa-Nqakula also tested positive for COVID-19 but has recovered from the
disease, the government said earlier.
The infections among senior politicians highlight the seriousness of the
escalating pandemic in South Africa, the worst affected country on the African
continent.
As of Tuesday, South Africa recorded 373,628 confirmed cases and 5,713
related deaths, according to official figures.
