The minister, who raised her hand in front of an SABC-TV camera to block visual coverage of the rally, issued a statement on Monday, saying that she “sincerely regrets the incident.”
“I would like to offer my sincere apology for an earlier altercation with some members of the media during the ANC provincial rally in Mount Frere while trying to stop the singing comrades,” Ndabeni-Abrahams said.
She added: “I wish to assure the media and South Africans at large of my unreserved commitment to media freedom.”
The SABC reported that Ndabeni-Abrahams put her hand in front of the camera after people stormed the venue to complain about a lack of service delivery in the area. She allegedly told the SABC journalists that they could not film the protest.
“A cabinet minister tried to interfere with the SABC’s coverage of the invasion,” the public broadcaster said.
“The disruption occurred during the ANC’s provincial party manifesto launch at Badibanise Stadium in KwaBhaca, formerly known as Mount Frere.”