Deputy President Paul Mashatile is recovering well after undergoing a minor surgical procedure, his office has confirmed, as it moved to address growing speculation about his health and his absence from some public engagements.

The update, issued on Sunday, 30 August, comes after reports and speculation in the media about the whereabouts and health of the Deputy President, who has been less visible at public events in recent weeks.

The Office of the Deputy President said Mashatile became unwell while at his home in Johannesburg and, under the supervision of his medical team, sought medical attention.

He was subsequently admitted to hospital for a minor surgical procedure and observation before being discharged.

Since then, Mashatile has continued to receive medical care and rest while remaining in contact with his office.

“The Deputy President is recovering well and remains in contact with his office. His programme and official responsibilities continue to be managed appropriately during his recovery,” said Keith Khoza, acting spokesperson to the Deputy President.

The Presidency had previously confirmed on 4 August that President Cyril Ramaphosa was pleased with Mashatile’s recovery following the minor surgical procedure.

Ramaphosa visited Mashatile and was assured that his deputy would soon return to work.

However, Mashatile’s continued absence from some public engagements appears to have fuelled questions about his condition, with media reports raising claims about the circumstances surrounding his absence.

His office has now sought to draw a line between confirmed information and speculation, stressing that it would not discuss unverified claims about his medical condition.

“The Office respects the Deputy President’s right to medical privacy and will therefore not comment on speculative or unverified claims,” Khoza said.

The office also urged the public and media to rely on official information rather than anonymous sources.

“We urge members of the public and media to rely on information issued through official channels rather than speculation or anonymous sources,” Khoza said.

Despite his absence from some physical engagements, Mashatile has continued to perform aspects of his official duties remotely.

According to his office, the Deputy President joined Parliament and has participated in other crucial meetings linked to his responsibilities through virtual platforms.

The latest update therefore seeks to reassure the public that Mashatile remains engaged with the work of his office while he recuperates.

Mashatile is the Leader of Government Business in Parliament and has been assigned several responsibilities by President Ramaphosa, including coordinating government programmes, overseeing efforts to fast track land reform and leading the South African National AIDS Council.

His office has not disclosed the nature of the medical condition that required the procedure, maintaining that the details fall within the Deputy President’s right to medical privacy.

The latest statement also appears aimed at ending uncertainty over when Mashatile will return to his full public programme.

Khoza said the Deputy President appreciated the messages of support and well wishes he had received during his recovery.

“The Deputy President appreciates the messages of support and well wishes he has received and looks forward to resuming his full programme of official engagements when advised by his medical team,” he said.

The Presidency’s official record shows that Mashatile had remained active in government engagements before his recent illness, including delivering addresses and participating in official programmes in July.

His reduced public visibility subsequently prompted questions, making Sunday’s statement the clearest update yet from his office on his condition.

For now, the Deputy President is expected to continue recovering while carrying out duties where possible through virtual platforms.

His full return to public engagements will depend on advice from his medical team, according to his office.