Article By Sheena Adams

Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota is in a serious but stable condition on Thursday after a heart attack on Wednesday night.

Lekota was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Gatesville Medical Centre shortly after 9pm.

His deputy, Mluleki George, said on Thursday that Lekota had been stabilised by doctors by mid-morning and was no longer in danger.

It is believed Lekotas life was in danger when he was admitted to the clinic after the attack.

"I have just heard that he is stable, not like the condition when he was admitted," George said.

Ridwaan Ali, director of Melomed, the holding company of the Gatesville Medical Centre, confirmed only that Lekota was being treated there.

"We will issue a statement later but are still liaising with the (defence) department," he said.

Lekota is national chairperson of the ANC.

President Thabo Mbeki, who was due to leave Sutherland in the Northern Cape, where he was attending the launch of the Salt telescope, was reportedly planning to visit Lekota on Thursday. This could not be confirmed.

Mbekis spokesperson, Malerato Sekha, said: "We are not sure at this stage."

George said he had been told doctors would not allow Lekota to receive visitors until later on Thursday - apart from the president.

"I dont believe they mean the president. It definitely excludes the president."

He said Lekota aides had told him the heart attack occurred shortly after 9pm.

It followed a particularly heated debate in the National Assembly on Thursday with DA MP Rafeek Shah.

Shah had alleged that some South African National Defence Force peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo lacked showers and fresh drinking water, and that hygiene conditions in some areas were "deplorable".

An outraged Lekota shouted down the allegations in the house, saying they "have no foundation whatsoever".

Lekota is a self-confessed fitness fanatic, who prides himself on completing the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour whenever he can.

Lekota said earlier this year that he had finished eight consecutive cycle tours in the past decade.

• This article was originally published on page 1 of The Cape Argus on November 11, 2005

Oringinal Content Published on the Web by IOL on 2005-11-10 12:58:00