by Thinus Ferreira
South Africa's recalcitrant communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has been placed on 2 months of "special leave" by the country's president with one month which will be unpaid after an image was posted publicly by a former deputy minister of Stella doing dinner at his home during South Africa's 21-day national lockdown period.
South Africa's former deputy minister of higher education and training, Mduduzi Manana, posted a picture to Instagram of Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and others having a meal at his house, saying "It was great to host a former colleague and dear sister cadre Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on her way back from executing critical and essential services required for the effective functioning of our country during the nationwide lockdown."
Once criticism started, he deleted the Instagram post which was already shared widely.
Cyril Ramaphosa accepted Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams' apology for violating the rules of South Africa's national lockdown to try and curb the spread of the Covid-19 novel coronavirus in the country but says that he was "unmoved by mitigating factors she tendered".
"The nationwide lockdown calls for absolute compliance on the part of all South Africans. Members of the national executive carry a special responsibility in setting an example to South Africans, who are having to make great sacrifices," says Cyril Ramaphosa in a 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. I am satisfied that Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams appreciates the seriousness of what she has done and that no-one is above the law."
Cyril Ramaphosa says he disapproves of Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams' actions which he says "undermines the requirement that all citizens stay at home and save South Africa from the spread of the coronavirus".
