JOHANNSBURG - The ball is now in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s court to address the vulgar outburst between the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, and a Kouga resident.
This is according to Political analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast, who has among other experts, criticised the Minister's conduct as falling short of the standards expected of public representatives.
Breakfast suggested that a mandatory public apology and formal disciplinary consequences are required to restore dignity to public office.
READ | 'Jou ma se ****' - Pemmy Majodina loses cool during community engagement
This, as he believes such an outburst cannot simply be brushed aside, regardless of whether or not the resident was found to be speaking out of turn.
“You cannot speak like that in public, even if the person in the audience was off the mark. We're talking about the person who is the extension of the President.”
The incident has already triggered fierce opposition backlash, with the DA and ActionSA lodging ethics complaints.
ActionSA called the incident captured on video a “disgraceful verbal attack" adding that the Minister’s use of vulgar and abusive language was completely at odds with the standards of conduct expected of a Member of Parliament and a member of Cabinet.
READ | DA lodges ethics complaint against Majodina after 'jou ma se ****' comments
Additionally, the party said her conduct undermines the dignity of public office and brings Parliament into disrepute.
The same sentiments were echoed by Breakfast.
“Leadership is not like a light bulb, something that you can switch on and off. It's a permanent presence. When you are a leader, you don't have a blank check to do as you please or to say anything that is under the sun. The minister was not on her best behaviour there,” Breakfast said.
The timing of this outburst also raises questions about how well-prepared officials are to face communities as they come out in their capacity of political parties in campaigning ahead of the November 4 local elections.
Officials will be confronted by frustrated communities because of ongoing service delivery issues.
Breakfast weighed in and said, “When you are a leader, you are held by certain standards which are very high. I think this is quite disappointing that a person who's supposed to be showcasing emotional intelligence has lowered her guard and behaved in such a manner.
“But I think the ANC is going to pay a heavy price here for this kind of conduct, because it's the second time now."