NFP leader apologises over way her illness handled

KaMagwaza-Msibi said she had effectively ignored her own health

DURBAN: National Freedom Party leader Zanele kaMagwazaMsibi admitted yesterday she had suffered a major stroke that left her in a coma for a number of days last year.

In an open letter she apologised for the way those close to her had handled the matter.

After her stroke on November 17, NFP members and her spokesperson, Canaan Mdletshe, had said she had fallen ill due to fatigue.

“Unfortunately those around me did not know how to handle the situation, so they informed the public that I was suffering from fatigue which is partly true since it is part of the causes of the stroke,” said KaMagwazaMsibi.

The stroke was so severe she had a less than 50 percent chance of survival.

“On November 17, 2014, I suffered a stroke in my Newcastle home. I went into a coma for days and there was a point where the doctors feared the worst. My family was prepared for the worst as the doctors gave me a 30 percent chance of survival.”

The NFP leader, who is also the country’s deputy science and technology minister, apologised for the way in which her illness was handled.

“I would like to apologise to you on behalf of my family and my team for the manner in which the whole issue (my sickness) was handled. I know you have many questions concerning my health that have not been answered. Without shifting the responsibility, I believe not being honest with you from the beginning was a huge mistake.”

In her letter, KaMagwaza- Msibi said she had effectively ignored her own health.

“As politicians, we tend to forget that just like everybody else, we are human and we get drawn into serving our country, forgetting about our own health and I guess that caught up with me.”

She described her year out of the mainstream politics as being the toughest in her life, but the letter makes no mention that she intends stepping down as either deputy minister or president of her party.

The letter did not mention any specific time frame as to when she would be returning to work. The only pictures of her that have been published since her stroke are those of her meeting traditional leaders on October 2.