Makana Mayor Zamuxolo Peter resumed duty on Monday after being booked off for a week by doctors, amid rumours of depression.
Makana Mayor Zamuxolo Peter resumed duty on Monday after being booked off for a week by doctors, amid rumours of depression.
The Mayor was admitted to Settlers Hospital on Thursday 14 August for extremely high blood-pressure levels, he told Grocott's Mail this week. He was discharged on Sunday17 August but was ordered to stay off work for a week in order to stabilise his blood pressure.
In a telephone interview on Tuesday, the Mayor told Grocott's Mail he was now on a strict diet and had started going to gym. Peter, who sounded relaxed and upbeat during our telephonic interview, laughed off the rumours of depression.
"I'm not sure whether there are links between depression and high blood pressure, or if there's difference between the two, but Doctor Godlonton told me that I have high blood pressure."
News of Peter's ill health began when he failed to arrive at a service delivery protest at upper Zolani. He was scheduled to address residents there. Asked if the problems plaguing the municipality had anything to do with his current ill health, the mayor responded, "You might say so because the nature of the work that I do is very demanding."
Stress, often linked to hypertension, is a common reason for public figures to be booked off sick. In June President Zuma was ordered by doctors to take a break from office for two weeks.
Zuma shocked the public when he cut a frail figure at the State Of The Nation address. Presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said Zuma's ill health was due to a demanding and strenuous election campaign.
National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete recently disappeared from her duties amid rumours of ill health. The ANC later confirmed her ill health was due to her demanding work schedule.
According to the medical website Healthline, high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the force of blood pushing against the inside lining of the arteries. It occurs when that force rises and stays higher than normal for a period of time.
This condition has long-term systemic health implications.
