Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang is recovering well three weeks after her liver transplant, her doctor said yesterday.

Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang is recovering well three weeks after her liver transplant, her doctor said yesterday.

"Things are progressing as expected. We don't anticipate that there are going to be problems," said Professor Jeff Wing, the minister's physician for the past four years.

Tshabalala-Msimang, pictured, underwent a liver transplant at the Donald Gordon Medical Centre on March 14.

Wing said because she was elderly - she is 66 - she would take longer to heal, but she was progressing as expected. It was not known when the minister would be discharged from hospital.

Transport Minister Jeff Radebe was appointed acting health minister in late February after Tshabalala-Msimang's readmission to the Johannesburg Hospital on February 20.

Ernie Song, a medical professor, told a press conference on March 16 that Tshabalala-Msimang suffered from cirrhosis, or extensive scarring and damage to the liver. - Sapa