Northern Cape Premier Hazel Jenkins suffered a stroke when she collapsed during her state of the province address in Kimberley, her spokesperson said on Saturday.
"Investigations last night revealed that the premier had suffered a stroke as a result of a ruptured aneurysm in her brain. She was taken to theatre last night and operated on by a team of neurosurgeons," spokesperson Mafu Davids said.
"She is now awake and her condition is stable. The specialist team is happy about her progress."
He could not elaborate on the extent of the damage caused by the stroke.
The premier was about 30 minutes into her speech when she collapsed at the CRC church where the state of the province address was held on Friday.
Paramedics gave immediate attention to Jenkins before she was admitted to the Kimberley Hospital.
