No clarity on Winnie's hospital stay

2011-11-23 12:14

Johannesburg - It was unclear on Wednesday whether ANC stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was still in hospital.

A spokesperson for Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, Erin Walsh, said she did not have a mandate to speak on the matter.

This was because she had only been authorised by the Mandela family to say on Friday that 75-year-old Madikizela-Mandela had been admitted for medical observation.

The ANC Women's League was also unable to say whether she had been discharged.

Diabetes

Madikizela-Mandela was admitted to the Milpark hospital on Friday for treatment for an existing diabetes condition, her daughter Zindzi Mandela said.

On Tuesday, ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said that he believed she was still in hospital on Monday, but had not been updated since.

He was not able to comment immediately when reached on Wednesday, saying he was in a meeting.

Mthembu said on Tuesday that the party would release a statement when Madikizela-Mandela's discharge from hospital was confirmed.

In September, Madikizela-Mandela was admitted to the Life Brenthurst Clinic in Parktown for minor surgery to her ankle.

- SAPA