SOUTH AFRICA: DEFMIN IN ICU BUT STABLE AFTER

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