‘Jou ma se ...': Minister Pemmy Majodina under fire after explosive exchange with resident - IOL

Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina is facing mounting pressure after a video appeared to show her swearing at a disabled resident during a chaotic community meeting in Loerie, Eastern Cape.

Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina is facing criticism after allegedly telling a resident “jou ma se ***” during a community meeting in Kouga Municipality, Eastern Cape, after the resident allegedly swore at her.

Opposition parties have called for disciplinary action against Majodina, while lobby group AfriForum is calling for her removal from office.

The incident occurred during the launch of an upgraded sewer pump station and rising main project worth R5.98 million.

Majodina is facing intense backlash on social media after the video surfaced. In response to IOL inquiries, the department’s spokesperson Lebo Maseko-Ngcamane said, “Unfortunately, the Minister is not available to comment on this.”

The meeting, held in Loerie, reportedly turned chaotic after a resident who was being escorted out of the venue swore at Majodina.

The incident was captured on video and showed a community member who was being escorted out of the venue shouting "jou ma se ****" at Majodina, who then responded by saying "Phuma! Jou ma se **** ook."

Kyle Minnaar, an administrator at Kouga Municipality, detailed the heated meeting with the community in an interview with eNCA.

According to Minnaar, the day started with the launch before moving on to a government community engagement.

Minnaar said two serious concerns emerged from the meeting: the meeting was heavily politicised and chaos erupted.

“Alright, she said the words, 'voetsek jou ma se p**s' while the resident was walking out of the hall, which took us all by surprise. I think everybody in the hall was in shock.

“It's very disappointing to see a Minister act in such a fashion, disrespecting a member of the community, but also the community of Loerie and Kouga Municipality.

Asked if Majodina was provoked or was this man very disruptive or was he provocative.”

He said, “So as I say, he was disagreeing with a speaker that was on the floor, and so he might be guilty of speaking out of turn, but nonetheless, even if he was incredibly disruptive, the manner in which the Minister responded and to slur such words I think are inexcusable."

Majodina's comments have sparked widespread outrage and criticism on social media platforms.

AfriForum has called for the dismissal of Majodina.

Lambert de Klerk, manager of environmental affairs at AfriForum, said, “AfriForum maintains that Majodina’s conduct is in conflict with the code of ethics for ministers, which stipulates, among other things, that a minister must at all times and in all respects act in accordance with the integrity of their office or the government.

The lobby group further calls upon Members of Parliament who condemn this conduct to lodge a complaint with the Public Protector in terms of the Executive Members’ Ethics Act 82 of 1998, so that Majodina’s actions can be further investigated.

De Klerk described this conduct by a minister as “unacceptable”.

“Regardless of the circumstances under which this remark was made, the minister ought always to listen to community members’ objections with respect. The fact that she reacted in this way indicates that she is unfit for the position of minister.”

Opposition party ActionSA said it will lay an ethics complaint against Majodina following what it called her “disgraceful verbal attack” at a ministerial event.

The party's MP Malebo Kobe said Majodina's use of vulgar and abusive language is completely at odds with the standards of conduct expected of a Member of Parliament and a member of Cabinet.

“Her conduct undermines the dignity of public office and brings Parliament into disrepute breaching sections 5(e) of the Ethics Code of Parliament.”

“There is simply no place for this kind of behaviour from a Minister of the Republic.”

“South Africans expect those entrusted with public office to conduct themselves with dignity, restraint and respect, not to resort to crude insults when confronted with the frustration of ordinary South Africa’s who rightly criticise the failures of the GNU.”

She said Majodina's conduct is emblematic of an arrogant and entrenched political establishment that has become completely disconnected from the citizens it is supposed to serve.

“It reflects the contempt with which the GNU views the public.”

“Ministers are not above the rules, and they are certainly not above accountability. ActionSA calls on Minister Majodina to immediately issue an unequivocal apology and expects swift and appropriate consequences for her conduct.”

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is reportedly lodging an ethics complaint against Majodina.

The complaint follows growing criticism of the minister's conduct after the video of the incident circulated on social media.

Meanwhile, a statement released by the municipality did not mention the alleged conduct by Majodina or the incident at the community meeting.

The municipality said it was joined by Majodina for the official launch of the upgraded Loerie Sewer Pump Station and new Rising Main Project - a R5.98 million investment aimed at strengthening sewer infrastructure and improving service delivery in the Loerie community.

The project was developed and funded under the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) to address recurring failures at the existing sewer pump station and the deteriorating condition of the existing rising main.

Kouga mayor Hattingh Bornman, Speaker of Council Lorraine Maree, MMC for Civil and Water Services Councillor Reinhardt Foley, councillor Gregory Stuurman, Civil and Water Services Director Charles de Kock, and members of the Civil and Water Services team joined Majodina and Department of Water and Sanitation representatives at the launch.