Durban - Reports of the death of anti-apartheid activist Jay Naidoo have been greatly exaggerated.
The social media rumour mill was abuzz early on Friday with news that Naidoo, one of the founding members of Cosatu who now sits on the boards of various international organisations, including the Global Health Advisory Panel of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, had died.
The report is believed to have begun at a popular Gauteng talk radio station.
However, Naidoo’s personal assistant, Sharmini Naicker, was quick to nip the rumour mill in the bud.
“My boss was on the treadmill early this morning. He is fully alive and well,” she said.
Naicker said she had been receiving calls from various media houses asking about Naidoo’s wellbeing.
“I don’t know where they get this from. Everybody is calling to ask if he is okay. I can assure you he is very okay.”
Naicker said the confusion surrounding Naidoo’s health may have stemmed from him attending the funeral of the father of one his close friends in Durban yesterday.
“But he came back to Johannesburg later and is doing fine,” Naicker said.