Shivambu blasted over race remark
A deluge of condemnation has rained down on EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu for his attack on a senior Treasury official on the grounds that he undermined African leadership.
A deluge of condemnation has rained down on EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu for his attack on a senior Treasury official on the grounds that he undermined African leadership.
At Tuesday’s meeting of Parliament’s finance committee, Shivambu questioned the presence of the Treasury’s deputy director-general, Ismail Momoniat. He asked why Momoniat, who is of Indian descent, repeatedly appeared before the committee on a wide range of issues when there were senior African officials who could attend on behalf of the Treasury, including director-general Dondo Mogajane. This, according to Shivambu, undermined Africans.
Condemnation of Shivambu’s remarks and support for Momoniat came from Mogajane, ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu, the parliamentary finance committee, and Reserve Bank deputy governor Kuben Naidoo and Banking Association of SA MD Cas Coovadia in their personal capacities.
Mogajane said in a radio interview he did not agree with Shivambu’s “unfortunate” comments and fully supported Momoniat. He said he had been unable to attend the finance committee meeting as he was attending a meeting of the public accounts committee on the same day.
Momoniat acted on his direct authority and instruction, he said, and had played a significant role in building the Treasury into what it was today.
He was a professional and not a racist, said Mogajane.
Mogajane also said Momoniat frequently attended finance committee meetings because the committee was dealing with a lot of reforms that fell under his responsibility.
Other senior Treasury officials attended the meetings of other committees.
Mthembu condemned Shivambu’s utterances, saying they “border on racism and are highly derogatory towards the South African Indian community”.
According to Mthembu: “Mr Shivambu’s erratic behaviour towards non-Africans is cause for grave concern. Earlier this year, Mr Shivambu physically assaulted a white journalist for taking photos of him on the Parliament precinct. This behaviour is utterly despicable from a member of Parliament.
“Comrade Ishmail Momoniat is a tried and tested cadre of the congress movement who earned his stripes in the struggle for liberation of our people when it was not fashionable to do so. Comrade Momoniat has always conducted himself as a consummate professional dedicated to serving his country through his work as the head of tax and financial sector policy at National Treasury,” he said.
In a rare tweet, Naidoo said the attack on Momoniat had to be countered. Momoniat was “one of the finest civil servants this country has produced. I challenge those attacking him to subject themselves to lifestyle audits. His critics have something to hide.”
Coovadia was concerned that Shivambu’s racist comments would feed into social divisions. He stressed that both he and Momoniat considered themselves to be African. Momoniat had made a tremendous contribution to the country and continued to do so.
The finance committee unanimously condemned Shivambu’s attack on Momoniat.
MR SHIVAMBU’S ERRATIC BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS NONAFRICANS IS CAUSE FOR GRAVE CONCERN