Ndabeni-Abrahams must show leadership and resign - analyst
Political analyst Ralph Mathekga believes President Cyril Ramaphosa deserves praise for taking decisive action against Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams.
Ramaphosa placed Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave on Wednesday after she violated lockdown regulations by visiting the home of former Deputy Higher Education Minister Mduduzi Manana.
"We have not seen such a harsh measure being taken on any minister in recent times in South Africa,” says Mathekga.
“The sanction by the president demonstrates that nobody is above the law, and a minister being given forced leave is unprecedented.”
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Opposition parties, however, believe the two-month suspension is not a harsh enough sanction.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) took the matter further by laying criminal charges against both Ndabeni-Abrahams and Manana.
"The president cannot do something that would cause a political storm within the ANC by dismissing her,” warns Mathekga.
“Remember the president is still leading a divided party, so the last thing he wants is to cause a storm that will take away from this crisis. If she was a good leader, she would resign. It is incumbent upon her to look at the situation and analyse whether she is the right person for that office.”