Minister Pemmy Majodina apologises after swearing at Eastern Cape resident - IOL

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has apologised following a heated exchange with a resident at a community engagement in Loerie, Eastern Cape.

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has apologised for her vulgar outburst during a community engagement in Kouga, saying she takes full responsibility for responding to a resident with the same profane language directed at her.

Majodina issued the apology on Tuesday, days after a video of the confrontation at the Loerie Sewer Pump Station launch on September 9 went viral and drew criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups.

The incident occurred during a community engagement in Loerie, where a resident being escorted from the venue shouted “jou ma se ****” at Majodina.

Majodina responded by telling him to leave and repeating the insult.

The engagement followed the launch of an upgraded sewer pump station and rising main project valued at R5.98 million.

In her statement, Majodina acknowledged that her response was inappropriate.

“In the heat of the moment, I reacted after being subjected to profane language. I take full responsibility for my conduct and deeply regret responding by using the same words directed at me,” she said.

“I sincerely apologise to the people of Kouga and to all South Africans,” Majodina added.

The minister also appealed to members of the public and public representatives to maintain respect during difficult engagements.

“I also appeal to members of the public that, even when engagements become difficult, or emotions run high, we must strive to maintain reciprocal respect and ensure that our interactions remain constructive,” she said.

Majodina said public representatives had a responsibility to remain composed, even when faced with difficult situations.

“While public representatives are human and can, like anyone else, experience moments of frustration, this does not diminish the responsibility we carry to remain composed,” she said.

“I accept that responsibility and will continue to learn from this experience.”

The apology follows mounting criticism of Majodina's conduct, with the Democratic Alliance and ActionSA moving to lodge complaints with Parliament's Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests.

AfriForum also called for Majodina's removal from office, saying her conduct was inconsistent with the standards expected of a Cabinet minister.

The ANC also condemned the minister's conduct, with spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri saying the party had no appetite for public representatives who failed to manage their temper under pressure.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula had also indicated that the party was seeking a report from Majodina on the incident before any decision could be taken.

The incident comes weeks after Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero also apologised after a heated exchange with a resident during a service-delivery meeting in Tshepisong.

Morero had responded with a profanity after the resident called him “a criminal”, before later taking responsibility for his conduct and apologising.