PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has set the record straight after news of him being hospitalised surfaced on social media on Sunday, 7 January.
This is after he did not show up at the church where he was scheduled to visit in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
Ramaphosa told the media that the news of his illness and that he was in ICU are extremely exaggerated.
"I had meetings and continued working from home, clearly on the instructions of the officials saying that they want me to be well preserved because the next six days are going to be vigorous for me as the president," he said.
Earlier on Monday, 8 January, Ramaphosa officiated the wreath-laying ceremony of struggle icons in Louisville outside Barberton.
He said the ceremony means a pilgrimage moment for the ANC.
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"We are truly happy to be here. This is one pilgrimage. There are others that are happening, but this is for us, rather a special one to come here to the gravesite of bab' Mabuza who played such an important role in the struggle and also played an important role as we began our government process.
"We are truly honoured that the family has allowed us to be here. This in our view means a pilgrimage moment is to come to a sacred space where we come to draw inspiration to remember his contribution and to be so inspired, particularly on the day the ANC was formed 112 years ago.
"Later we are going to reflect on what the ANC's birth really means and what it meant over the years in the lives of the people of this country and in the life of our people going forward," he said.
Ramaphosa said the ANC has been an over aching organisation and has had a wall-to-wall presence from time.
"We are now inheritors of that tradition and as inheritors, it's been a joy to come here to this sacred place to pay homage but also to draw inspiration," he said.
Celebrations are continuing in Mbombela.
