US embassy cable - 05PRETORIA4521

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