Zuma to miss Youth Day event

President Jacob Zuma conveying a message during the 20th Celebration of Freedom Day held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. South Africa. 27/04/2014. Siyabulela Duda

President Jacob Zuma conveying a message during the 20th Celebration of Freedom Day held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. South Africa. 27/04/2014. Siyabulela Duda

Published Jun 10, 2014

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Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma will no longer deliver the main address at the national youth day commemoration in Kimberley on June 16.

 "He must maximise the time he has to rest," his spokesman Mac Maharaj said on Tuesday.

"He's working from home and (his) diary is being adjusted day-by-day."

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa would stand in for Zuma at the youth day event on Monday.

Around 7am on Tuesday, the arts and culture department advised that Zuma would deliver the youth day address in Kimberley under the theme "Youth Moving South Africa Forward".

The advisory said: "Members of the media are advised that President Jacob Zuma will deliver a keynote address at the National Youth Day Commemoration on 16 June 2014..."

Around noon, a Government Communication and Information System advisory said Ramaphosa would deliver the main address.

Issued on behalf of the National Youth Development Agency, the advisory made no mention of Zuma.

It merely said: "Members of the media are advised that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver a keynote address at the National Youth Day Commemoration on 16 June 2014..."

Zuma was discharged from a Pretoria hospital on Sunday after spending a night there.

African National Congress secretary general Gwede Mantashe said at the weekend that Zuma, 72, went for a routine health check.

Maharaj on Tuesday said Zuma was still resting and no time limit had been set on how long he would be on a break.

"The doctors did extensive tests and are satisfied with the results. He's back home and he's working," he said.

Zuma was not attending a three-day Cabinet lekgotla in Pretoria he was initially scheduled to lead from Tuesday. The event was being chaired by Ramaphosa.

Last Friday, Mantashe said Zuma was exhausted from campaigning for last month's elections and was given time to recover before he held the Cabinet lekgotla.

Mantashe said the ANC's election campaign had been punishing and all senior members of the party would take time off one after another to "re-energise".

 

Sapa

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