International relations and co-operation minister Naledi
Pandor has reprimanded SA's ambassador to Denmark‚ Zindzi Mandela‚ following
her controversial tweets.
In an interview on Radio 702‚ Pandor said Mandela told her
she had been under "extreme provocation and degradation'' regarding
comments about her mother.
On June 14‚ Mandela created a stir on social media after
her "apartheid apologists" and "land thieves" tweets went
viral.
Mandela was heavily criticised for her potentially
"divisive" comments. The DA and AfriForum called for her to be
recalled‚ while the EFF defended her.
Pandor said she spoke to Mandela‚ who confirmed the tweets
were hers.
"She reported to me that she'd had weeks of what she
termed extreme provocation and degradation through various comments about her
parents‚ particularly Mrs [Winnie] Mandela ... and the former president‚
[Nelson] Mandela.
"I informed her that she is a diplomat and I expect
diplomatic conduct from her‚ and that she should adhere to the social policy
guiding how public servants should utilise social media‚" said Pandor.
"We agreed that she must constrain herself and focus
on stating government policy‚ because she‚ as our representative‚ should be
advancing the policy goals of South Africa‚" said Pandor.
On the matter of land‚ Pandor said no one could call
Mandela into question.
"We are committed to addressing equality of access to
land. So on the matter of land ownership changing‚ you can't argue against
that. However‚ once you begin‚ as an ambassador‚ to be personal and to refer to
individuals in a way that could be construed as personal‚ you then cross the
line.
"Therefore‚ I said to her she must ensure that she
recalls at all times that she's a representative of the president and of South
Africa in Denmark‚ and must conduct herself in terms of that‚" Pandor
said.
In Pandor's defence‚ Mandela took to Twitter to correct
social media users who suggested Pandor was "bullying" her.
This after a Daily Maverick headline read: "Naledi
Pandor slaps down Zindzi Mandela for undiplomatic and personally insulting
tweets."
Mandela said she didn't regard Pandor's actions as
bullying.
"I don't regard it as bullying at all and have known
the minister for many years as one of the most genuine supporters of my mother
when it wasn't popular to be one. In our discussion she was sympathetic and
solution-specific‚" she said. Times
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