Fresh Details: Vice President Paul Mashatile hospitalised after being poisoned (WATCH VIDEO)

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Deputy President Paul Mashatile has been hospitalised after experiencing a health scare during a public event in Limpopo on Saturday. While his office has denied that he "collapsed" on stage, a video circulating on social media shows Mashatile appearing to lose his balance and being assisted off stage.

The incident occurred during the N'wamitwa Day Celebrations at the Valoyi Cultural Village, Greater Tzaneen, Mopani District. Temperatures in the area reached a sweltering 36 degrees Celsius, with a real feel of closer to 40 degrees Celsius.

Mashatile's acting spokesperson, Keith Khoza, downplayed the incident, stating that the Deputy President experienced a "slight disturbance" while delivering his keynote address.

"He started losing energy and slowed down. He was about to stop talking but the guys that were next to him then took him to a place to go get checked if there was anything of concern. He was taken to a place where he can be checked. The medical team assigned to him gave him a clean medical bill of health [sic]," Khoza explained.

However, a video has surfaced of Mashatile speaking at the Tshwane University of Technology on Friday evening, where he claimed to have suffered from "food poisoning".

In the clip, Mashatile tells a student that he was "sick" earlier that morning after he "had like food poisoning or something".

"My office was very worried because as I came back home, on the plane I didn't eat so they were worried if I'd be able to come," Mashatile said.

He told his staff he was feeling "much better" when the suggestion was made to address the students virtually.

"God is good," he said.

The video has sparked speculation about the cause of Mashatile's health scare, with some suggesting that the heat may have exacerbated a pre-existing condition.

Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, who visited Mashatile in hospital, confirmed that he was doing well. "Don't go around spreading fake news," Ramathuba warned residents.

Mashatile's office has maintained that he received the necessary medical attention and is recovering well. However, the incident has raised concerns about the Deputy President's health and the potential impact on his duties.

Prior to the incident, Mashatile had been invited by chief Dr N'wamitwa II to address the Vatsonga people as they celebrated and paid tribute to Her Royal Highness. He had spoken about the importance of the event, highlighting that the 16th anniversary of N'waMitwa Day united vital aspects of South African society. "It coincides with the conclusion of Women's Month and Heritage Month's observance. It demonstrates our progress in advancing the constitutional values of gender equality and non-sexism in the country," he said.

Former President Jacob Zuma and former deputy president David Mabuza have also been reportedly poisoned before.


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