Stir over Mboweni’s Malema tweet

Finance minister Tito Mboweni has caused a stir on social media after coming to the defence of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema‚ whose home address was made public.

In a tweet on Tuesday evening‚ Mboweni lambasted the media for making Malema’s personal details public‚ describing the EFF head as “my homeboy”.

EWN reported on Tuesday that Malema lived in a house in Hyde Park‚ Johannesburg‚ owned by controversial cigarette manufacturer Adriano Mazzotti‚ who said there was nothing untoward about the arrangement.

Author and journalist Jacques Pauw tweeted full details of the property in the wake of the report.

Pauw later removed the tweet‚ saying that he had been asked by the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) to do so.

“I thought it was justified to post his address as it is a guarded complex with state-of-theart security.

“Sanef said it is wrong to do so. I accept that and deleted the tweet‚” Pauw said on Twitter.

Pauw also came under fire for posting a picture of Malema and Mazzotti together with his business partners and Malema’s son.

Pauw argued that the picture had already been in the public domain.

“That picture was posted some time ago on Facebook by one of the people that was there,” the tweet read.

Mboweni‚ in his tweet‚ took a swipe at those who had published Malema’s personal details‚ saying the act deserved to be condemned.

His post has sparked a heated debate‚ with people divided on whether he should be making such remarks as a minister.

Sanef treasurer Adriaan Basson responded to Mboweni’s tweet by telling him that the forum condemned the publication of Malema’s personal details.

Basson added: “We would also appreciate your condemnation of the abuse of journalists on this platform.”

Malema also responded to Mboweni’s post‚ telling him that his children were safe.

“Thank you governor‚ the kids are safe‚” he said.