I was not admonished by Cyril Ramaphosa, Lindiwe Sisulu says
The tourism minister’s open defiance puts the president in a tight corner as calls for her axing are expected to mount
21 January 2022 - 11:43
by Kgothatso Madisa
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu. Picture: FREDDY MAVUNDA.
Tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu has blamed the media team in the presidency for misrepresenting her conversation with President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding her controversial article.
On Friday, Sisulu said she was not “admonished”, as the presidency claimed, and did not agree to apologise or withdraw her article titled, “Hey Mzansi, have we seen justice?”.
This comes after the presidency issued a statement on Thursday night claiming Sisulu had undertaken to retract, and apologise for, the article, which has been seen as an attack on the judiciary and the constitution. The statement said Sisulu apologised after being “admonished” by Ramaphosa at a meeting in Cape Town this week.
According to the presidency, Sisulu was reprimanded specifically for her attack on the judiciary in which she said those in the higher echelons of the judicial system were “mentally colonised” and had settled “with the worldview and mindset of those who have dispossessed their ancestors”.
Sisulu quickly distanced herself from the statement, saying she stood by her article and would neither apologise nor retract it. The presidency released another short statement saying it stood by its earlier one claiming she had undertaken to apologise and retract.
On Friday morning, Sisulu sought to clarify it was the media team in the presidency that allegedly misrepresented events that took place when she met Ramaphosa this week.
Her spokesperson Steve Motale said she was troubled by the president’s media team, which was “deliberately mischievous in the statement issued”.
“At no point in the conversation was she firstly admonished nor secondly expressed regrets resulting in agreeing to withdraw or apologise for her article, but agreed to reconsider the particular line relating to the judiciary, which the president had raised issue with and was to share with her,” said Motale.
Sisulu, through Motale, confirmed she had met Ramaphosa, who expressed “discomfort” with specific aspects of her article relating to the judiciary.
“We had a mature and sensible meeting and we thus concluded on good terms. In fact, [on Thursday] the president called me and read the specific sentence that he had found offensive. We ended our discussion on an amicable [basis],” Sisulu said.
The minister’s open defiance puts Ramaphosa in a tight corner as calls for her axing are expected to mount.
Ramaphosa’s supporters initially advised the president not to act against her, lest she appear a victim during a year in which the ANC is scheduled to elect new leaders.
Sisulu is believed to be campaigning to challenge Ramaphosa at the December ANC national conference.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
I was not admonished by Cyril Ramaphosa, Lindiwe Sisulu says
The tourism minister’s open defiance puts the president in a tight corner as calls for her axing are expected to mount
Tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu has blamed the media team in the presidency for misrepresenting her conversation with President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding her controversial article.
On Friday, Sisulu said she was not “admonished”, as the presidency claimed, and did not agree to apologise or withdraw her article titled, “Hey Mzansi, have we seen justice?”.
This comes after the presidency issued a statement on Thursday night claiming Sisulu had undertaken to retract, and apologise for, the article, which has been seen as an attack on the judiciary and the constitution. The statement said Sisulu apologised after being “admonished” by Ramaphosa at a meeting in Cape Town this week.
According to the presidency, Sisulu was reprimanded specifically for her attack on the judiciary in which she said those in the higher echelons of the judicial system were “mentally colonised” and had settled “with the worldview and mindset of those who have dispossessed their ancestors”.
Sisulu quickly distanced herself from the statement, saying she stood by her article and would neither apologise nor retract it. The presidency released another short statement saying it stood by its earlier one claiming she had undertaken to apologise and retract.
On Friday morning, Sisulu sought to clarify it was the media team in the presidency that allegedly misrepresented events that took place when she met Ramaphosa this week.
Her spokesperson Steve Motale said she was troubled by the president’s media team, which was “deliberately mischievous in the statement issued”.
“At no point in the conversation was she firstly admonished nor secondly expressed regrets resulting in agreeing to withdraw or apologise for her article, but agreed to reconsider the particular line relating to the judiciary, which the president had raised issue with and was to share with her,” said Motale.
Sisulu, through Motale, confirmed she had met Ramaphosa, who expressed “discomfort” with specific aspects of her article relating to the judiciary.
“We had a mature and sensible meeting and we thus concluded on good terms. In fact, [on Thursday] the president called me and read the specific sentence that he had found offensive. We ended our discussion on an amicable [basis],” Sisulu said.
The minister’s open defiance puts Ramaphosa in a tight corner as calls for her axing are expected to mount.
Ramaphosa’s supporters initially advised the president not to act against her, lest she appear a victim during a year in which the ANC is scheduled to elect new leaders.
Sisulu is believed to be campaigning to challenge Ramaphosa at the December ANC national conference.
Sisulu defies Ramaphosa over apology for attack on judges
Sisulu apologises and retracts ‘hurtful comments’ about SA judiciary
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
NICOLE FRITZ: Grandfathers aside, Sisulu’s absurdities are many
JONNY STEINBERG: Racists and nationalists dip their cups into the same punch
Body of advocates rejects Sisulu’s attack on the judiciary
Civic groups censure Lindiwe Sisulu for ‘attack’ on judiciary
RONALD LAMOLA: Let’s debate positive actions in pursuit of democratic society
Sisulu has insulted judges, says Zondo
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.