The ravaging impact of the coronavirus pandemic has continued to bring out the n0-nonsence stance in public office holders, especially governors and presidents.
This obviously explains why the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies in South Africa, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, has incurred the wrath of the president, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa.
She has been handed a two-month special leave letter after she violated lockdown regulations, the Presidency said on Wednesday.
Of Ndabeni-Abrahams’ two months special leave, one month will be unpaid, the Presidency said in a statement.
“As to allegations that the minister violated the lockdown regulations, the law should take its course,” presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko said.
This followed the revelation on social media that the minister had recently visited the home of a friend who hosted a lunch, contrary to the lockdown regulations, Diko said.
Ramaphosa summoned the minister on Tuesday to express his disapproval of the minister’s actions, which undermine the requirement that all citizens stay at home and save the country from the spread of the coronavirus, said Diko.
Ramaphosa accepted Ndabeni-Abrahams’ apology for the violation but was unmoved by mitigating factors she tendered, according to Diko.
The president has reprimanded the minister and directed her to deliver a public apology to the nation, Diko said.
During Ndabeni-Abrahams’ special leave, Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu will act in her position, Diko said.
Agency reports say the hard stance in South Africa has been made to include members of the National Executive who carry a special responsibility in setting an example to South Africans, who are making great sacrifices, Ramaphosa said in the statement.
“None of us – not least a member of the National Executive – should undermine our national effort to save lives in this very serious situation,” said Ramaphosa.
The president said he was satisfied that Ndabeni-Abrahams appreciates the seriousness of what she has done and that no-one is above the law.
Since the 21-day lockdown took effect on midnight March 26, up to 20,000 people have been arrested across the country for violating the lockdown regulations.
Cami Ezenwa is a Writer, Editor, Publicist, Biographer and Journalism Trainer
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1 comment
That is a step in the right direction. No one is above the law. As a senior political office holder she should have known better to do the right thing. If it were in Nigeria, there will be sacred cows.