The South African government on Monday denied news reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula from “attending a meeting for being unprepared and failing to read cabinet memos.”
Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele said allegations by the Sunday Independent that Mbalula was asked to leave a cabinet meeting due to his lack of preparations were unfounded and deliberately meant to mislead the public.
“Cabinet discussions are confidential. This has been a long-standing convention. Thus, these allegations are unfounded,” Gungubele said a statement.
He said cabinet decisions are shared with the public in a transparent manner through the Minister in the Presidency.
“The allegations made by the Sunday Independent are therefore unjustified and malicious,” he added.
Gungubele said members of the cabinet are accountable collectively and individually to parliament for the exercise of their powers and the performance of their functions.
NM/jn/APA