CAPE TOWN, July 21 (NNN-BUANEWS) – South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, was admitted to hospital for COVID-19, on Monday evening, the government announced.
Mantashe was admitted to hospital on the advice of their family doctor, for better medical attention and monitoring, government spokesperson, Phumla Williams, said in a statement.
Mantashe and his wife Nolwandle Mantashe had been put under self-isolation at home after testing positive for COVID-19 a week ago.
Mantashe’s wife remained in self-isolation, although her husband has been admitted to hospital, Williams said.
“We will continue to give the Mantashe family all the support they need during this time. We wish both Minister and Mrs Mantashe a speedy recovery and we are quite confident they will emerge victorious.
In addition to Mantashe, two other cabinet officials – Minister of Employment and Labour, Thembelani Nxesi, and Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula – have also tested positive.
Mapisa-Nqakula recovered and Nxesi is still in self-quarantine.
The transmissions among senior politicians highlight the seriousness of the escalating pandemic in South Africa, the worst affected country on the African continent.
As of Monday, South Africa recorded 364,328 confirmed cases and 5,033 related deaths, according to official figures.– NNN-BUANEWS
