Hunger striker hospitalised in SA during 21 day fast
By Alex Bell
18 February 2009

A South African civic leader and activist, fasting in solidarity with Zimbabwe’s starving citizens, has been admitted to a Johannesburg hospital after falling critically ill this week.

Nomboniso Gasa, who heads the Gender Equality Commission in the country, embarked on a 21 day hunger strike last week as part of the Save Zimbabwe Now campaign – a solidarity group launched to pressure African leaders to take action in Zimbabwe. The campaign is being highlighted by rolling hunger strikes and fasts by high profile activists, and Gasa’s fast came after Civicus leader Kumi Naidoo completed his 21 days of no food last week, without any health setbacks.

Gasa however fell ill six days into her planned hunger strike and on Tuesday was admitted to hospital with “alarmingly low levels of iron” in her body. According to a statement released by the solidarity campaign group, Gasa underwent “emergency medical intervention”, which included being on an intravenous drip for seven hours to bolster her body’s iron levels. The drip was administered so that Gasa did not break her hunger strike and the group has said she will continue only taking water during her treatment programme.

“Under strict medical supervision she will continue on the hunger strike for the full 21 days consuming only water,” the group’s statement read, and Gasa herself has remained committed to the fasting process.

Meanwhile, the group has said it will continue putting pressure on African leaders despite the formation of the power-share government between the MDC and ZANU PF. The coalition government was just one item on a list of demands made by the group, which includes an immediate response to the devastating humanitarian crisis. The group’s organisers this week said the next 21 day hunger strike will go ahead next month if the demands are not met. Dumisa Ntsebeza, head of the Investigative Unit within the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and current Advocate in South Africa’s High Court, is set to take the third leg of the relay hunger strike on March 4.