The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said it will lay charges against the communications and digital technologies minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, for contravening the rules of the national lockdown.
This after Ndabeni-Abrahams was spotted in a photo published on social media on Sunday having lunch with former deputy minister of higher education, Mduduzi Manana, which was in violation of the national lockdown rules.
In a statement published today, the political party said: “EFF spokesperson Vuyani Pambo will be laying criminal charges against the minister of communications and digital technologies, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and Mduduzi Manana for breaching lockdown regulations stipulated by government.”
Meanwhile, Ndabeni-Abrahams released a recorded statement earlier today apologizing to President Cyril Ramaphosa and South Africans for contravening the lockdown rules. “I regret the incident and I am deeply sorry for my actions, I hope the president and you South Africans will find it in your hearts to forgive me.”
Ramaphosa had summoned Ndabeni-Abrahams to a meeting yesterday. The president put the minister on two months special leave – one paid and another unpaid.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed minister of communications and digital technologies Ms Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for two months — one month of which will be unpaid. As to allegations that the minister violated the lockdown regulations, the law should take its course.
“The president accepted the minister’s apology for violation but was unmoved by mitigating factors she tendered,” read a statement published by Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khusela Diko.