WATCH: Transport minister locks down Somizi’s ‘joke’ video

A criminal complaint was laid at Sandton Police Station this morning by transport Minister Fikile Mbalula.

The complaint was made against media personality Somizi Mhlongo in light of a social media video that was posted by Mhlongo which went viral.

In the video, Mhlongo claimed Mbalula had informed him that the lockdown would be extended. The video was brought to Mbalula’s attention just 15 minutes before President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation at 8pm on 9 April.

Mabalula laid a criminal charge against Mhlongo for the contravention of the Government Lockdown Regulations as published under the Disaster Management Act on fake news and misinformation peddling.

“First and foremost we are informing you that we will be opening a case here at the Sandton Police Station. I was very disappointed and shocked by the video that got circulated and it was very clear to me that most of the things there could be said in jest, we live in a time were things cannot be joked about,” said Mbalula.

After personally accepting an apology from Mhlongo, Mbalula said the matter did not end there.

“As a cabinet minister, we have sworn in secrecy that there must be no doubt on my bona fides [honesty] in relation to information that could be disclosed to me individually as a person and cabinet minister and so that is what brings me here.”

Observing his friendship with Mhlongo, Mbalula reiterated that he did not want to give an impression of mixing business with pleasure.

“My cabinet responsibilities in relation to the public cannot be confused with my individual and personal friendships.”

Facing a very serious pandemic, Mbalula would like to appeal to South Africans to take it as a high priority.

“For all of us and everyone else, let’s stop these jokes if they are there, stop it right there and abide by the rules. The regulations of the disaster management are guiding us not to spread malice and disinformation because any of it can lead to dire consequences for the nation in the time of Covid-19.”

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