Joburg mayor sorry for 'ebola tweet'
Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba has apologised for a tweet in which he lashed out at an informal trader transporting cows' heads in a trolley.
The tweet caused a stir on social media, with Mashaba accused of xenophobia and a lack of understanding of the plight of the poor.
"I apologise most sincerely to our residents for my comments relating to the meat also presenting a potential risk of an Ebola outbreak,” Mashaba said on Wednesday. “I also apologise for what has appeared to be insensitivity towards the plight of informal traders in our city, attempting to earn a living. With the benefit of hindsight, I can appreciate how my comment offended people with its insensitivity.”
The mayor was also condemned for making comments about the person’s nationality.
“It was never my intention for the comments to be construed as an attack on any person or group – informal traders or our foreign residents.
“I am not above making a mistake and, when I err, I am willing to humble myself and apologise unreservedly to our residents,” he said.
Mashaba has subsequently asked health inspectors in the inner city to work with informal and formal traders to help them understand the importance of safety standards.