Cape Town – South African poet Ntsiki Mazwai has revealed that she was recently hospitalised after contracting malaria.
Mazwai shared that her absence from social media was due to a life-threatening battle with the illness, adding that she is now recovering at home after spending weeks in hospital.
“Morning guys. When I was absent from SM, it was because I contracted malaria and have been in hospital for weeks and now at home for recovery. I don’t think the Dept of Health is warning you enough and they seem a bit out of their depth,” she wrote.
Morning guys. 📣 📣 ‼️ 🚨
When I was absent from SM it was because I contracted Malaria and have been in hospital for weeks and now at home for recovery.
I don’t think the dept of Health is warning you enough and they seem a bit out of their depth.
Pls take the warning about… https://t.co/JxR3dXiT7T
— NtsikiMazwaiMedia (@ntsikimazwai) April 20, 2026
She explained that she had not travelled to malaria-endemic areas and was in Johannesburg when she became ill.
Warning others to take the disease seriously, Mazwai said the experience was severe.
“Please take the warning about malaria seriously. I literally almost died. You lose your mind and become delirious,” she wrote.
She urged the public to seek immediate medical attention if they notice symptoms.
“Any signs of fever or changes in your body, please go to the doctor immediately. JHB has a malaria outbreak. I did not travel anywhere or to any malaria places. I was in JHB working on my podcast,” she added.
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Picture: Instagram/ Ntsiki Mazwai
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
