Tito Mboweni breaks up with 'abusive' Twitter on eve of Budget statement

The Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, has decided that he will no longer post original content on social media network Twitter, saying it's become "an abusive platform."

His Tweet to this effect on Wednesday came hours before he was due to release his much-anticipated mid-term budget statement on Wednesday.  

ALSO READ: Budget preview: 'It's bad news, some more bad news, and then more bad news'

Mboweni had been hailed in the past as one of the few Ministers in South Africa that posts their own views on social media. 

He has also caused an online stir by demonstrating his cooking abilities on Twitter, with South Africans finding him relatable for it.

He, however, also courted controversy on Twitter, notably when he got embroiled in a Twar (Twitter war) over e-tolls. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa had to intervene following the very public pat, saying via his spokesperson, Khusela Diko: "Such exchanges on social media are unbecoming of their high offices and fail to provide the leadership required in this instance."

ALSO READ: Ramaphosa criticises e-toll Twitter spat between Mboweni and Makhura

The Presidency instructed Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula to meet with Mboweni and Gauteng Premier, David Makhura to discuss possible solutions to resolve the impasse around Gauteng's e-toll system and said: "The public interest is best served through collaboration, not conflict, and the appropriate platform for leaders to express and reconcile differing views is Cabinet and other coordination forums".