President Jacob Zuma was admitted to hospital on Saturday evening to have a procedure to remove gallstones, the presidency said.

“The gallstones were discovered about two months ago during a routine medical check-up,” spokesperson Bongani Majola said in a statement.

“The president’s work programme did not allow for the procedure to be undertaken earlier.”

Zuma was now able to have the procedure because of the recess in Parliament and Cabinet.

Majola said Zuma was expected to be discharged from hospital on Sunday. News24