Bachelor DA leader feels premier’s wrath

Azbubu

Azbubu

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Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane on Tuesday attacked DA caucus leader Jack Bloom, saying politicians who did not have children should not ask questions in the provincial legislature about any child’s welfare.

Her heated response was sparked when Bloom – a bachelor – wanted to know the condition of 18-year-old Thomas Ferreira, who is in a coma in a Krugersdorp hospital after a collision with a blue-light state vehicle.

He also wanted to know whether the province’s first citizen would ban the unnecessary use of blue lights.

Mokonyane lost her cool and attacked the DA leader, accusing him of not having children and therefore not in a position to ask about Thomas.

The teenager went into a coma on November 5 after his motorcycle collided with the blue-light state vehicle of Gauteng MEC for Housing and Local Government Humphrey Mmemezi.

The politician was in the car at the time.

Bloom asked Mokonyane to confirm reports that “MEC Mmemezi was in a rush to attend an ANC political-school meeting in Soweto when the accident occurred”.

Initially, she responded that the matter was between the police and VIP unit officials. The VIP services log book would show Mmemezi’s destination, she said.

The opposition was not happy with this and started groaning, leading to Mokonyane twice ordering them to “shut up. I am talking as premier.”

Ignoring two instructions from Deputy Speaker Steward Ngwenya to withdraw her comments, she scolded in isiZulu, “Thulani, ngiyakhuluma” – again telling the opposition to “shut up”. She withdrew this third “shut up” after Ngwenya asked her to do so.

Bloom then asked if Mokonyane would ban the unnecessary use of blue lights in Gauteng.

The premier intimated that Bloom was being insensitive.

“Let us not make the Ferreira issue a political football. You are insensitive. You are not parents…

“This is not about newspaper headlines, Mr Bloom. I am a mother. I am anxious about the life of that boy. I am in constant contact with his family. It will be a year tomorrow since my child died,” she chided. - The Star
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You can only be concerned about children if you have some. :erm:
 
I am not sure what she is suggesting by her outburst? Should the DA Member not ask about the welfare of the victim because he is trying to use the situation as a political football, which is insensitive to the parents of the victim and the Premier empathizes with this because she is a parent,
or
Is the Premier angry about the fact that a DA Member (regardless of whether he is childless) asked a question about the welfare of the victim since the Premier understands the outrage other Parents feel towards the situation, and that it is bad for her reputation...
 
lcbxx said:
I am not sure what she is suggesting by her outburst? Should the DA Member not ask about the welfare of the victim because he is trying to use the situation as a political football, which is insensitive to the parents of the victim and the Premier empathizes with this because she is a parent,
or
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Why would it be insensitive to the parents?
 
How these MPs are able to comprehend a language is beyond me - they are so thick.
 
abzo said:
You can only be concerned about children if you have some. :erm:
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Yeah, also you can only be concerned about the elderly if you have an old person.

Sometimes I wonder why the opposition don't call them out on their pathetic logic.
 
She is simply doing the avoidance projection of victimisation routine... it is in the Minister's Handbook, it deals with avoiding questions you would rather not answer because you would have to account for the consequences of your actions or inactions.

EDIT: I suppose too by that logical expedition, she can not empathise with blue-light victim because she has not had a son knocked down by a speeding red-light jumping MEC.
 
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Mila said:
Why would it be insensitive to the parents?
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It might be if the tragic situation they are in is explicitly used for political gain. Although the Premier seems to understand this as she has lost a child, she does not seem to understand that she is accountable for the injuries, and the possible death, persons and vehicles under her control have caused. She just understands that it is a sad, tragic situation, and no corrective action or reprimanding is necessary since being sensitive about it is enough.

This reminds me of the baby that was torn into pieces during birth by midwives and doctors in a Klerksdorp hospital a while back. The mother, when comforted by a social worker afterward, was told she must forgive the doctors/midwives as we all make mistakes...
 
lcbxx said:
It might be if the tragic situation they are in is explicitly used for political gain. Although the Premier seems to understand this as she has lost a child, she does not seem to understand that she is accountable for the injuries, and the possible death, persons and vehicles under her control have caused. She just understands that it is a sad, tragic situation, and no corrective action or reprimanding is necessary since being sensitive about it is enough.

This reminds me of the baby that was torn into pieces during birth by midwives and doctors in a Klerksdorp hospital a while back. The mother, when comforted by a social worker afterward, was told she should forgive the doctors/midwives as we all make mistakes...
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Did the Premier loose a child? Did not know that.
I still do not understand your analogy. ( seriously no sarcasm ) the parents were not there, or should we never mention this again? And I would also like to know if the fat cow has checked up on the boy since her first visit in her blue light brigade.
 
No surprise. I would not expect anything more or less from an ANC Fat Cow.
 
Mila said:
Did the Premier loose a child? Did not know that.
I still do not understand your analogy. ( seriously no sarcasm ) the parents were not there, or should we never mention this again? And I would also like to know if the fat cow has checked up on the boy since her first visit in her blue light brigade.
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I'm being sarcastic as well, based on the reasoning of the Premier. She objects to someone asking her, as the accountable person, about the condition of the Victim (which someone in her department injured). Instead of saying "Sir, I am in contact with the family on a daily basis and the Victim's situation is not improving" (which she did much later), the chose to tell the DA Member he had no right to ask since he cannot empathize with the situation (since he has no children) and therefore his query is malicious.
 
Johannesburg - The ANC in Gauteng expressed shock and sadness on Wednesday after the death of Premier Nomvula Mokonyane's son, Retlabusa Mokonyane.

"We must all console and support the family in the current moment of the tragic loss of a young brilliant son," the provincial African National Congress said.

"The ANC Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee is shocked and saddened at the unexpected death... We send our heart warm condolences to the family, cadres, relatives and friends."

Earlier, the Gauteng provincial government (GPG) also conveyed its condolences.

"The GPG and its Executive Council (Exco) wish the premier and her family strength and perseverance in these trying times," it said.

No foul play suspected

The body of Retlabusa Mokonyane, 23, was found in a townhouse in Bassonia, south of Johannesburg, on Tuesday afternoon.

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Neville Malila said no crime was suspected.

"Preliminary police investigations at the scene has indicated that no foul play was suspected and an inquest docket was opened for investigation," he said.

He declined to comment on contradicting newspaper reports on Wednesday that claimed he had shot himself, and that he had hanged himself.

"The cause of death is still under investigation," said Malila.

The Gauteng provincial government and the premier's office's asked for people to respect the family's privacy.

"The family needs their space at this time," said the premier's spokesperson, Dumisani Zulu.

He said the office of the premier was not planning to release any media statements on Wednesday, referring all queries to the family, whose spokesperson was not immediately available.

In the news

Retlabusa often made the news, most recently at the weekend when the Sunday Times published a story headlined, "Is the premier's son being protected?"

The report said more than eight cases had been opened against him, including charges of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and abduction, but these were all later withdrawn.

It also reported that Retlabusa, after colliding with a police vehicle on November 7 allegedly while drunk, was "mysteriously" released from custody after the police station received a phone call from an unknown person.

This prompted the Democratic Alliance to call for an investigation into "the hugely suspicious withdrawal of various criminal charges against Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane's son, Retlabusa".

DA leader in Gauteng, Jack Bloom, said in a statement: "Mokonyane's fine words about fighting corruption mean nothing if political connections can be used to escape justice...

"We need to know who phoned the Kagiso police station that night to order his release and who authorised this phone call.

"This is Mokonyane's moment of truth. If it is found that she is directly implicated then she must resign," said Bloom.
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Bloom and madame premier seem to have a history...


Mila said:
Did the Premier loose a child? Did not know that.
I still do not understand your analogy. ( seriously no sarcasm ) the parents were not there, or should we never mention this again? And I would also like to know if the fat cow has checked up on the boy since her first visit in her blue light brigade.
Click to expand...
 
kilobits said:
Bloom and madame premier seem to have a history...
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Ohh I now remember her. The son was a criminal and they tried to take her on about getting him off on the charges.
Shame still her son in the end. did not connect the dots there tx.
 
So by her own admittance Mokonyane, being a black Zulu-speaking woman, has no relevance whatsoever to a white Afrikaans speaking male simply 'cos well she isn't one?

This one is not fit to run a pack of rabid dogs, who in their right mind appointed her as a premier of all things?
 
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