The President must set an example by laying a criminal complaint
against Ndabeni-Abrahams and firing her
by Phumzile Van Damme MP - DA Shadow Minister of Communications and
Digital Technologies

Date: 07 April 2020
Release: Immediate

The statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa this afternoon indicating that he
has summoned Communications and Digital Technologies Minister, Stella
Nbabeni-Abrahams is simply not good enough.
He must set an example as the President of South Africa that lawlessness while
our country deals with a global pandemic will not be tolerated, regardless of from
whom it comes.
He therefore ought to lay a criminal complaint against Ndabeni-Abrahams, a
person who he appointed as a Minister and member of his Cabinet.
And he must go a further step by removing her from his Cabinet.
President Ramaphosa addressed the nation twice asking South Africans to obey
the law while containment strategies for Covid-19 were being implemented. The
majority of the people of our country have done so with diligence. Many have
lost jobs and incomes while staying at home as he requested. Some have been
brutalized by security forces for not obeying the law.
He cannot expect that in these circumstances a mere slap on the wrist will
suffice. Ndabeni-Abrahams must go!
A screenshot of an Instagram post by former MP Mduduzi Manana dates 5 April
2020 shows Ndabeni-Abrahams seated a table dinner table with Manana, food in
front of her, smiling for the camera. The post was captioned: “It was a great to
host a former colleague and dear sister Cde Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams (Minister
of Communications and Digital Technologies) on her way back from executing
critical and essential services required for the effective functioning of our country
during the nationwide lockdown”.
While in terms of the Disaster Management Regulations, Members of the
Executive fall “under Essential Services,” the regulations are very clear that
restrictions of movement only apply when it is related to work. A visit to a friend
for dinner does not qualify as such. Morever, Manana makes it clear in his post
that Ndabeni-Abrahams had finished her duties for the day.
Annexure B 11(a) of the regulations clearly states:
26. Services rendered by the Executive, members of Parliament, Members of the
Provincial Legislature, Members of Local Councils, the Judiciary, traditional
leaders, and National Office Bearers of Political Parties represented in Parliament.