Mpumalanga premier admits guilt, pays fine for not wearing mask
The Premier of Mpumalanga has issued a second apology for temporarily walking around without a mask at Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu’s funeral in Emalahleni over the weekend.
Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane says she has also deposited a statement of guilt at the Vosman Police Station and has accepted the necessary fine.
“I have since reflected deeply on this momentarily lapse, which I regret profusely. I wish to take this opportunity once again apologise to His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Deputy President of the Republic Mr David Mabuza, the Mthembu family, the people of Mpumalanga and the rest of the country. I should have known better as a public figure and more so attending a Covid-19 funeral,” she says.
The Premier had initially claimed not to have realised that her mask had fallen off.
As a sign of remorse, Mtsweni-Tsipane says she has also bought 1 000 masks that will be distributed in Emalahleni as part of public education and awareness campaign to demonstrate the serious nature of COVID-19.
“I have also taken a decision to go into isolation for a period of 14 days,” she says.
Some South Africans, however, believe harsher action is needed.
The Premier’s spokesperson has also taken some heat from the saga.
South Africans are angry that she went on news platforms to defend the maskless Premier who was seen hugging a police officer at the funeral.