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Zuma appears in video for first time in nearly a month

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Ongoing: Elections Hot

The MK Party president did not address his health in a video posted on YouTube on Friday. He said the party was ready to take over the country and urged people to vote for it five days before the local government elections.

Zuma, who is 84, went to hospital on 6 October after he fell ill at an MK Party campaign event in Msinga. In the video he said only that he had been "somewhere". He did not explain his absence further.

The party said earlier that fatigue, found in a routine check-up, led to his admission. It said doctors recommended supervised rest and recuperation. Unnamed sources said he later went to a private location to recover further.

On 14 October his daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, posted videos of him exercising with dumbbells. President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that the surgeon-general of the SANDF was overseeing Zuma's treatment.

Polling data suggested the party could take about 13% of the overall vote in the municipal elections on Wednesday.

Key facts

Who
Jacob Zuma (MK Party president, former president); MK Party (political party; Zuma's party); Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla (Zuma's daughter, posted videos of him exercising on 14 October); Cyril Ramaphosa (President, confirmed the SANDF surgeon-general was overseeing Zuma's treatment)
What
In a video posted on YouTube on Friday, Zuma did not address the extended illness for which he was hospitalised on October 6, saying only that he had been "somewhere". He said the MKP was ready to take over and urged people to vote for uMkhonto weSizwe five days before the local government elections.
When
30 October 2026
Where
South Africa, Pietermaritzburg, Msinga
Status
Reported

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