EFF leaders blast Dubai based Fikile Mbalula for prioritising ‘leisure’ over work
Mbalula responded by saying 'sensational gossipers' must be careful not to be left by their wives and reminded others to remember their place.
Julius Malema (back when he was ANCYL leader) and Fikile Mbalula (back when he was Sports and Recreation minister) listen to speeches during the ANC’s 99th birthday party held at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, 8 January 2011. Picture: Gallo Images
Barely a week after being told by Chester Missing at the ANC conference that he perhaps ought to take a leaf out of Helen Zille’s book and only tweet work-related programmes to avoid reputational damage, police minister Fikile Mbalula finds himself in the middle of yet another social media storm – this on why he will be tweeting from Dubai.
This morning EFF leader Julius Malema reacted to news that the political head of the police services has opted to take his family to Dubai, a city linked to disgraced ANC ministers known to have visited the country during state capture meetings.
The whole Minister of Police out of the country at this critical period of the year, talk of priorities. Crime is a serious problem in this country but leisure for our ministers is more important according to the conduct of @MYANC Ministers,Sies.
— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) December 27, 2017
Malema was joined in the debate by his party’s chief whip Floyd Shivambu. He questioned how during “one of the most hectic periods in South Africa,” the minister will holiday in Dubai and still see nothing wrong with his actions.
Festive Season is one of the most hectic periods in South Africa and police activity is heightened, attending to crime scenes, and assisting with accident reports. Amidst that, the political head, minister of police is in Dubai, and he sees nothing wrong with that. Wow!!
— Floyd Shivambu (@FloydShivambu) December 27, 2017
The police minister had at the beginning of the festive season posted a message in which he said “please don’t drink and drive, fighting crime begins with you.”
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/936604249454202880
‘Mbaks,’ as he is popularly known, did not back down and reiterated that he was relaxing with his family.
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/945744826917703680
The former ANC youth leader said the Guptas are to blame because they apparently own Dubai.
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/945752017968009217
He also suspected those who were fueling the sensation about him in Dubai were probably also tweeting from one of the most expensive hotels in that country.
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/945754461716340736
The tirade continued as the former minister of sports and recreation told his critics in a mixture of isiZulu and isiXhosa they must remember their place and mind their own business.
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/945755949092036608
He warned ‘gossipers’ that they risk being ditched by their wives from spreading malicious rumours about him.
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/945756990181138438
He concluded and reminded everyone he was with his family and disclosing any more details will be “public service overreach.”
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/945760032687259648
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