Johannesburg - Northern Cape premier Hazel Jenkins suffered a stroke when she collapsed during her state of the province address in Kimberley, her spokesman said on Saturday.
“Investigations last night revealed that the premier had suffered a stroke as a result of a ruptured aneurysm in her brain. She was taken to theatre last night and operated on by a team of neurosurgeons,” spokesman Mafu Davids said.
“She is now awake and her condition is stable. The specialist team is happy about her progress.”
He could not elaborate on the extent of the damage caused by the stroke.
“All we know is what is said by the medical team. We are just happy that she is awake.”
The premier was about 30 minutes into her speech when she collapsed at the CRC church where the state of the province address was held on Friday.
Paramedics gave immediate attention to Jenkins before she was admitted to the Kimberley Hospital.
The Speaker of the Northern Cape Legislature Jacobus van Wyk said the Legislature would convene a special standing committee to decide a way forward on Tuesday.
This would mean the rescheduling of the state-of-the-province address and the debates.
He said the Northern Cape Legislature would like to finalise the programme as soon as possible. - Sapa