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Close associate says, after allegedly violating the lockdown regulations, the minister fears police knocking at her door and confronting her
The fear of police knocking at the door at any time to seek answers about her alleged violation of the lockdown regulations grips Communications and Digital Technology Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, a close associate has revealed.
“She is quite scared and worried about the police. Generally, she is a casual person, but with this one she is not taking it lightly,” said the person on condition of anonymity.
The source said Ndabeni-Abrahams had sought legal advice on the matter and the feedback was that “perhaps because she was not caught live breaking the law, the fine could be lighter, especially because she has also apologised”.
Apparently the criminal offence carried a penalty of one month’s imprisonment or a R1 500 fine, said the source.
Police Minister Bheki Cele said on Friday that police officers would meet Ndabeni-Abrahams to “take the matter forward”.
Read: Officers meet with Stella, Public Prosecutor also briefed, says Cele
This week President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for two months as a sanction.
This followed a picture circulating on social media showing the minister having a meal with former ANC MP and former higher education deputy minister Mdu Manana.
As part of the lockdown, the government had ordered everyone to stay at home and avoid social interaction to minimise the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.
City Press learnt that Ramaphosa was upset with Ndabeni-Abrahams when he reprimanded her on Tuesday, saying that what she had done was “completely out of line and out of order so you will suffer the consequences”.
“The minister accepts the sanction because she knows that what she did was wrong. The president drew the line and said you cannot get away with this one,” said the person.
Regarding Ndabeni-Abrahams’ feelings towards Manana, who posted the controversial picture, the person said: “As far as she is concerned, she would not blame anyone for her mistakes and she has taken full responsibility. She does not blame Manana and does not believe he might have acted deliberately.”
Read: Ndabeni-Abrahams to answer for rule-breaking lunch with Manana
Ndabeni-Abrahams told the person: “It was my mistake. I should not have gone there in the first place, regardless of the reasons.”
The presidency said Ramaphosa was not convinced by the reasons the minister put forward, including that she was on duty to collect protective gear and found that Manana and family were having a meal and she joined them.
Ndabeni-Abrahams’ ally said the minister was “fully aware of rumours that she flirted her way up”, which had been spread by “some senior people in the ANC who she looks up to, some she regards as big sisters”.
“It is unfortunate that if you are a woman and you are successful, you will easily be accused of flirting your way to the top. But the minister has no gripe with anyone. It pains her, though.”
The person said Ndabeni-Abrahams had been the chief campaigner for Ramaphosa in the Eastern Cape ahead of the ANC national conference in 2017.
This included fundraising for the campaign, and supporting delegates with food and transport.
“She is a member of the ANC provincial executive in the Eastern Cape and she is well respected within political circles there. She was the driving force for Ramaphosa to get the Eastern Cape vote at Nasrec,” said the source.
On Ndabeni-Abrahams’ appointment as minister, another close source said she had worked her way up from being deputy minister since 2011.
“She understands the sector, the stakeholders and what needs to happen. Before that she was in the portfolio committee on communications.”
Mish Molakeng, departmental spokesperson, told City Press that, on Thursday, following Ramaphosa’s sanction, the minister formally wrote to the department to inform the staff on developments and appealed to them to give all the necessary support to acting minister Jackson Mthembu, who is also minister in the presidency.
“She had a handover meeting with Mthembu and the director-general this week to decide on the priorities in the coming weeks,” Molakeng said.
These included digital terrestrial migration, the project management office set up to monitor the Covid-19 directives and the economic recovery team put together by Ndabeni-Abrahams.
“These are the urgent areas that Mthembu will be looking into,” Molakeng said.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula opened a criminal case against celebrity socialite Somizi Mhlongo on Friday for allegedly spreading “fake news” that the minister had leaked government discussions on the extension of the national lockdown to him.
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