Presidency 'desperately' trying to extract apology from Sisulu - Analyst
Political analyst Ralph Mathekga believes that the office of the Presidency is desperately trying to extract an apology from Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.
The comments by Mathekga come after a statement from Sisulu on Thursday night, stipulating that she had not issued an apology to the office of the Presidency for what has been deemed as an attack against South Africa's constitution.
"I was surprised to see reports of an apology yesterday because I read the original article because it did not strike me as a mistake. It struck me as something that someone thought through very well,” Mathekga says.
"That is why even allegations of plagiarism came about, which means that this is an idea that has been part of a debate in other societies or can actually become that.”
ALSO READ: Sisulu's office insists no apology was issued to Ramaphosa over attack on judges
Mathekga maintains: “The President insisting that this is our word is very strange. For me, it looks like they are not on the same page, and by the looks of things it appears that the Presidency is trying desperately to try and extract an apology from her and she's not willing to send out the apology.”
In a statement released yesterday night, the Presidency claims that Sisulu conceded that her words were "inappropriate" in a meeting held in Cape Town earlier this week.
However, Sisulu slammed the statement from the Presidency, stating that she has never committed to a retraction or apology.
The Presidency released yet another notice, saying that it stands by the original statement.
