Lumka Oliphant now refuses to speak English

Social development department spokesperson Lumka Oliphant has again drawn criticism in relation to her boss, Minister Bathabile Dlamini, for refusing to speak English on an English-medium radio station, 702, when asked to discuss how the social development department intends to pay grants to beneficiaries next month.

Oliphant insisted on speaking isiZulu. In the past, she has spoken English on the show.

https://twitter.com/ZethuZulu/status/838622053783781378

She was being questioned on Monday morning by host Xolani Gwala, who attempted to get her to speak English to accommodate all South Africans, but she continued to refuse.

Take a listen:

Twitter users were astounded:

https://twitter.com/rubygana/status/838625153009528836

Lumka's refusal to speak English had nothing to do with 11 official languages,she was just being rude as she was yesterday at the presser

— Mathaba (@She_Thabi) March 6, 2017

You do what Lumka just did on 702 when you have to defend the indefensible

— Faith J Daniels 🌻 (@FaithJDanielsSA) March 6, 2017

Lumka Oliphant & her boss need to take early retirement.This is 2 much nw sies.No ppl skills intervention will help here she's irrepairable

— Nono Ngwenya (@ngwenya_nono) March 6, 2017

@gwalax that vile Lumka has struck again😂

— bongz (@bonganinge) March 6, 2017

Oliphant was forced to apologise for a social media rant last month in which she swore at people who suggested that Dlamini might enjoy drinking alcohol and was possibly drunk at an official event.

Speaking to Talk Radio 702, Oliphant said (in English at that time) that the “malicious” rumours about Dlamini’s alleged drinking habits had been making the rounds since last year. She admitted her Facebook rant had been irresponsible, unfortunate and regrettable.

ALSO READ: Don’t talk sh*t about Bathabile, says her spokesperson

In her post, which went viral and was since deleted, Oliphant started by warning her boss’s haters, saying she was very capable of tearing apart someone and taking a Facebook or Twitter conversation to the streets.

So if you’re about to say any “sh*t” about her boss, be warned.

“If it were all up to [Dlamini], South Africa would not be drinking, there would be no advertising. So okukun*a nihlala nikuthetha, nikubhala is just that – kukun*a (so the sh*t you always write and talk about is just that – sh*t),” she wrote.

Oliphant said she did not have a problem with people who said whatever they wanted about her politics, as it was part of the game. All she was asking was for people not to talk “sh*t” about her.

“Just know that from today on, I have decided to take this alcohol matter where you have taken it.”

It’s not known whether this latest stunt will also later elicit an apology.

@gwalax Lumka Olifant likes to ensure that her sobriety and that of her boss remain in question. Who in their right mind behaves like that?

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— KK (@Khumbs007) March 6, 2017

@gwalax @Radio702 I am disgusted by Lumka behaviour, total disrespect to SA's who are waiting for answers

— Nonki Sehume (@NonkiSehume) March 6, 2017

Bathabile Dlamini and Lumka Oliphant- must be hard trying to disguise incompetence with defensive behavior. Unbelievable! @Radio702 @gwalax

— Betty Lesunyane (@BettyMphande) March 6, 2017

Lumka Sassa spokeperson on 702 .That woman has no respect non whatsoever. She had been on 702 previously but now she can't speak English😦 pic.twitter.com/3dG00cGt9t

— Khayalethu Bhayilam (@cimaizibane) March 6, 2017

Lumka was interviewed by Eusebius on 702 in English. Then LeAnne, in English…But now wants to flat out disrespect Xolani like that? SMH!

— Nchema (@ShottaZee) March 6, 2017

Lumka Oliphant should've bn fired long ago.But being a banana republic that we are, she's an inspiration to some. Watch as they defend her.

— tebz (@tololodj) March 6, 2017

Pretending you can't speak English and speaking in Zulu on an English radio station is stooping to a new low, Lumka Oliphant. #SASSA

— rah* (@yn_maybe) March 6, 2017

She had already faced criticism on Sunday for her handling of a press conference by her department.

And then Lumka Oliphant wants to end the presser after 3 minutes! Lumka is as incompetent as Bathabile Dlamini. Atrocious arrogance. #SASSA

— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 5, 2017

It's almost as though Lumka Oliphant and Bathabile Dlamini role-model to one another how to be rude and incompetent at our expense. #SASSA

— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) March 5, 2017