By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Lindiwe Sisulu SA.
ANC national executive member Fikile Mbalula remains unapologetic and defiant after he allegedly described fellow comrade Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu as a “criminal.”
Sisulu lodged an official complaint against Mbalula to ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule Wednesday in which she asked Magashule to institute disciplinary proceedings against Mbalula.
The Twitter war began on March 8 when Sisulu posted a picture of a dinner party hosted by former president Jacob Zuma for all the candidates who were vying for the ANC presidential post ahead of their elective conference in December 2017.
Now, Sisulu claims that Mbalula labelled her a “criminal” – an allegation the Transport Minister denies after seeing Sisulu’s letter to Magashule circulating on social media on Sunday.
In her complaint, Sisulu said Mbalula’s responses on Twitter showed an “uncomradely attitude and was clearly sexist.”
“The last thing I expected was an irresponsible response from an NWC (ANC national working committee) comrade. It thought it was a most inappropriate way of responding to my tweet and lowered the dignity and integrity of the ANC in the public domain. It was exceedingly unseemly,” she said.
She added: “I therefore wish to formally place on record my complaint over Comrade Fikile Mbalula’s tweet wherein he responded to a tweet trail I published on Monday 8 March 2021 about a dinner by Former President Zuma in 2017. In responding to a person who commented on my tweet, the impression is created that he is also responding to my tweet and calling me a “criminal.”
She further said: “If indeed Cde Mbalula is labelling me a criminal, this would not only amount to crimen injuria, but it is also a violation of the ANC’s social media policy which prescribes that “any social media posting must be legal, ethical and respectful at all times.”
Sisulu pointed out that Rule 40 of the ANC constitution prohibits party members from using inflammatory languages.
“I appeal and request the Disciplinary Committee to engage Cde Mbalula in this matter. If he was not responding to me, he would have clarified the matter immediately. Enough time has lapsed for him to clarify his comments.
“The former Minister for International Relations have posted the picture of the dinner for the general public to understand that, when they contest each other, it did not mean they did not like each other adding: “for me it showed that the ANC is most united and most mature.”
Oh what a night! Dinner of the Presidential hopefuls in 2017. It was a good meeting and a wonderful time for all. #throwback pic.twitter.com/0NQHDxFZld
— Lindiwe Sisulu (@LindiweSisuluSA) March 8, 2021
Mbalula fought back on Twitter, denying claims made by Sisulu. He also expressed his dismay at Sisulu’s alleged failure to seek an explanation from him directly but chose to approach Magashule.
Dear Cde Lindiwe
I have taken note of your letter to the Secretary-General of the ANC making unfounded allegations against myself. It is rather unfortunate that you chose to write to the SG without affording me a basic courtesy of clarifying the tweet and my comments thereto. pic.twitter.com/74UoQpBiTi
— |Mr Fix (@MbalulaFikile) March 14, 2021
He said everything else on his timeline was exchanges between him and those that responded to his tweet.