The Star Late Edition

Stella comes back after lunch furore

- SIHLE MAVUSO

THE Minister for Communicat­ions and Digital Technologi­es, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, is expected to resume her ministeria­l duties this week following her suspension.

Ndabeni-Abrahams was suspended by President Cyril Ramaphosa on April 8 after a picture of her and former higher education deputy minister Mduduzi Manana having lunch was circulated on social media. This sparked a furore, with many accusing her of contraveni­ng the country’s Covid-19 lockdown regulation­s.

Shortly after the picture emerged, Manana defended the gathering by claiming that the minister came to his house to collect personal protective gear from his charity organisati­on, the Mduduzi Manana Foundation – an explanatio­n that was immediatel­y shot down as a lie.

In response to the public outrage, Ramaphosa summoned Ndabeni-Abrahams on April 7 to hear her side of the story.

A day later, he announced that he was suspending her for two months, one of which would be unpaid.

The president said that during the meeting he expressed his disapprova­l of the minister’s actions.

“The nationwide lockdown calls for absolute compliance on the part of all South Africans. Members of the national executive carry a special responsibi­lity in setting an example. None of us – not least a member of the national executive – should undermine our national effort to save lives in this very serious situation,” Ramaphosa said at the time.

When Khusela Diko, Ramaphosa’s spokespers­on, was asked to officially confirm the end of the suspension, she referred all questions to Ndabeni-Abrahams’ department.

The department’s spokespers­on, Mish Molakeng, said Ndabeni-Abrahams was still not back at work yesterday, but would be some time this week.

While Ndabeni-Abrahams was away, Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu acted in her position.

 ?? | GCIS ?? MINISTER for Communicat­ions and Digital Technologi­es, Stella NdabeniAbr­ahams.
| GCIS MINISTER for Communicat­ions and Digital Technologi­es, Stella NdabeniAbr­ahams.

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