Johannesburg - ANC MP Jackson Mthembu, who was shot and wounded during an armed robbery in Witbank at the weekend, was in hospital but doing well, the ruling party said on Monday.
“He is in good spirits and he is talking but doctors still want to observe him,” African National Congress spokesman Zizi Kodwa said.
“He is still in (the 3/8 intensive care unit... but it's nothing serious.”
Mthembu was drawing money at an ATM on Mandela Street in Witbank on Sunday evening when he was approached by an armed man who demanded that he draw all his money out of his account.
There was confusion over where Mthembu was shot.
Mpumalanga police spokesman Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said Mthembu was shot in the cheek, while the office of the African National Congress Chief Whip said he was shot at close-range in the chest.
However, later on Monday evening Kodwa said Mthembu got into a scuffle with the armed robber and a shot was fired. The bullet grazed his cheek and then hit him in the upper shoulder.
Mohlala said that after the shot went off the armed man and three accomplices went to Mthembu's car. Four of Mthembu's friends were waiting in the car. They robbed Mthembu and his friends of their money and cellphones.
The ANC said Mthembu drove himself to the Emalahleni private hospital.
A case of armed robbery was opened.
Sapa