President Ramaphosa issued the formal rebuke to the minister after it emerged Mapisa-Nqakula allowed a senior ANC delegation to catch a lift on a South African National Defence force jet to the neighbouring country earlier this month.
FILE: Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula at a media briefing on 16 March 2020 on plans by government to curb the spread of the coronavirus in South Africa. Picture: Sethembiso Zulu/EWN
JOHANNESBURG – President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula‘s salary be paid to the Solidarity Fund for the next three months, as detailed in a reprimand for the African National Congress (ANC) delegation trip to Zimbabwe.
Ramaphosa issued the formal rebuke to the minister after it emerged she allowed a senior ANC delegation to catch a lift on a South African National Defence force jet to the neighbouring country earlier this month.
Facing a backlash, Mapisa-Nqakula contended she was on a working visit in her capacity as minister – and simply gave the ANC members “a lift”.
Pressure had been mounting on the president to act, with political parties and civil organisations crying foul over an apparent abuse of state resources by the governing party. But Ramaphosa says her helping the delegation was not “in the best interest of good governance” as required by the executive member’s code.
In a statement released on Saturday evening, Ramaphosa said Mapisa-Nqakula demonstrated “an error of judgement” which is not in keeping with the responsibilities of a minister of cabinet.
Over and above docking her salary, Ramaphosa also instructed her to make sure that the ANC reimburses the state for the costs of the flight and to report to him once that has been done.
President @CyrilRamaphosa has issued the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula with a formal reprimand for conveying an African National Congress (ANC) delegation to Zimbabwe on an aircraft of the South African Air Force (SAAF).
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) September 26, 2020