Own Correspondent|Former South African President Jacob Zuma is reportedly sick and has had to be flown to a secret Cuban hospital on suspected poisoning.

Zuma is said to have gone to Cuba for treatment related to the 2014 poisoning plot after developing health complications.

It is believed he needed treatment outside the country because he either did not trust South African doctors or believed there was insufficient expertise to deal with poisoning.

A second source claimed that Zuma showed early signs of forgetfulness – a claim dismissed by a third source who said this might be a plan not to answer questions in his upcoming fraud and corruption trial.

The ANC however claims that it is just as surprised as most people by news reports that Zuma had taken ill and is undergoing treatment in Cuba.

The party’s national spokesperson, Pule Mabe, told journalists on the sidelines of the last national executive committee (NEC) meeting of the year, taking place in Benoni on Sunday, the party had no knowledge of the news.

“Well, like yourselves, we’ve seen media reports that suggest the health of the former president of the ANC might be ailing. If that was to be true, we of course wish him well and a speedy recovery,” said Mabe.

According to weekly newspaper Sunday World, Zuma was in Cuba seeking treatment for an illness linked to an alleged poison plot from 2014.

This despite the National Prosecuting Authority declining in September to investigate claims of him being poisoned, saying there was no evidence such an act had taken place.