Deputy president Paul Mashatile treated for dehydration after collapse on stage

Deputy President Paul Mashatile was rushed out of an event in Limpopo on Saturday after he collapsed during an address.

Mashatile was attending the N’wamitwa Day celebrations in Tzaneen when he fell ill and had to be escorted off stage by security.

Limpopo premier Phophi Ramathuba rushed to the microphone, calling for calm.

“He was addressing a meeting when he started feeling unwell. Security took him to a car and he was taken to another location for assessment by medical personnel. Rushing him to a hospital would have taken longer, and may have complicated issues further.

“Medical professionals checked his condition and found nothing serious. They cleared him shortly after,” Mashatile’s spokesperson Keith Khoza told The Citizen.

Khoza said temperatures in the area had reached as high as 39 degrees and Mashatile was found to have been dehydrated.

“He is in good spirits, as he usually is, and there is no cause for alarm,” he added.

Mashatile is expected to return to Gauteng on Saturday, following the incident.

Hot and dry weather

Ramathuba also blamed the hot weather, telling those who attended the event that “it could have happened to anyone”.

One resident, Excellent Ngobeni, told The Citizen others had collapsed because of the heat.

“It is very hot here in Limpopo. My child, Nhlamulo, also collapsed on the way to extra lessons. I am not surprised that the deputy president collapsed.”

N’waMitwa Day celebrations

According to the Limpopo government, Mashatile was attending the event in his capacity as Chairperson of the Presidential Task Team on matters of traditional and Khoi-San leaders.

“The N’waMitwa Day is aimed at commemorating the inauguration of Her Royal Highness Hosi Dr N’waMitwa II, which took place on 29 August 2008 as a pioneer woman traditional leader among the Vatsonga people. The installation of Hosi N’waMitwa II advances the Constitutional values of gender equality and non-discrimination in the country,” the government said of the event.

Just hours before he arrived at the event, Mashatile was welcomed with songs and dancing by the community of the Greater Tzaneen at a tree-planting ceremony at the Valoyi Cultural Village.