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The Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula.
- Fikile Mbalula apologized to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma for a derogatory tweet.
- News24 understands that Dlamini-Zuma complained to the ANC leadership.
- Mbalula, however, argues that Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane is a “gun for hire”.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula apologized to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, for the derogatory tweets in which he referred to her as “Zuma’s wife.”
Meanwhile, Dlamini-Zuma was said to have filed a formal complaint against him with the ANC.
News24 understands that Dlamini-Zuma complained to at least one of the top six ANC officials about Mbalula on Monday.
He is expected to present his complaint at an upcoming NEC meeting, where he will allege that Mbalula’s tweets were misogynistic.
Minister Cogta Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
However, Mbalula has not regretted his opinion that Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane is a “gunman for hire”.
READ | Mbalula’s tirade on Twitter: Mkhwebane opens slander crime case against Transport Minister
Mkhwebane has opened an insult crime case against Mbalula following his tweets.
Mbalula said he defended her views and was ready to meet her in court.
“I wish to reiterate that I maintain my opinion that she has behaved like a hired gun, more interested in pursuing partisan political agendas rather than defending the stature of the Public Defender’s office, with the responsibility of placing the interests of citizens first, “he said in a statement.
For Immediate Release Attention: News Editors Date: March 9, 2021 APOLOGY FOR REFERENCES TO THE CDE NKOSAZANA DLAMINI-ZUMA pic.twitter.com/G2rUDVkbKf
– Minister of Transport | Mr Fix (@MbalulaFikile) March 9, 2021
In his apology, Mbalula assured Dlamini-Zuma that he would “keep his name out of any political battle and comment.”
“On March 8, 2021, a tweet in my timeline that refers to Cde Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, about a comment about a dinner hosted by former President Zuma, with candidates vying for the ANC presidency, seems to have been interpreted like an attack on Cde Dlamini-Zuma.
READ | Magashule reveals the result of Zuma’s meeting with ANC top 6
“It is regrettable and regrettable that my comment may appear to be an attack on the person and integrity of Cde Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, as this was never the intention.”
Mbalula responded to a tweet from the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, who posted a photo from a 2017 dinner portraying all the candidates vying for the ANC presidency at the time.
“[Former president Jacob] Zuma is not a saint, it was a disaster for this country, great, try me and I’ll tell you why … Zuma organized this (dinner) with the firm conviction that his wife will win. We were all shocked Long live! David Mabuza for saving us from this monarch disaster. Viva Dabede (sic), “Sisulu replied in the now-deleted tweet.
ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule and his deputy Jessie Duarte said Mbalula would be called to order for his tweets.
News24 understands that the matter will be raised at an upcoming special NEC meeting this weekend.
“The problem is that his tweets are misogynistic. He attacks Nkosazana (Dlamini-Zuma), Lindiwe Sisulu and Busisiwe Mkhwebane. The three women. That is the complaint,” said a well-positioned party leader.
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