JOHANNESBURG - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have slammed Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina’s profane shouting match with a Kouga resident.
The party said in a statement that such behaviour is unacceptable for a public representative to insult a member of the public.
At the centre of the red berates condemnation of the minister's conduct was the treatment towards the member of the community, who the EFF deemed was treated with 'indignity, disdain and lack of respect'.
READ | 'Arrogance of power' | Politicians under scrutiny over public outbursts
The profanity exchange between Majodina and a community member happened during the launch of an upgraded pump station.
The incident captured in a video, saw a community member who was being escorted out of the venue shouting "jou ma se ****" to Majodina, who then responded by saying "Phuma! Jou ma se **** ook."
“The people of South Africa are rightly frustrated with the slow pace of service delivery, corruption and absence of government and to be irritated by their frustration, regardless of how it is expressed, reveals a lack of character and leadership.”
The incident has already triggered fierce opposition backlash, with the DA and ActionSA lodging ethics complaints over the incident.
In the meantime, critics have called on the President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the vulgar outburst, with one political analyst suggesting that a mandatory public apology and formal disciplinary consequences are required to restore dignity to public office.