SA Gov
Tourism Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, has withdrawn her remarks attacking the judiciary and has apologised for penning an article attacking African judges in particular.
The apology came after President Cyril Ramaphosa met with Minister Sisulu in Cape Town earlier this week, where he admonished her about her article published on 7 January.
According to a statement from the Presidency on Thursday, Minister Sisulu conceded that her words were inappropriate and retracted the statement while affirming “support for the judiciary.”
The President specifically admonished the Minister about her attack on the judiciary when she said: “Today, in the high echelons of our judicial system are those mentally colonised Africans, who have settled with the worldview and mindset of those who have dispossessed their ancestors.”
“They are only too happy to lick the spittle of those who falsely claim superiority.
“The lack of confidence that permeates their rulings against their own speaks very loudly, while others, secure in their agenda, clap behind closed doors.”
Sisulu said that she accepted that her column “has levelled against the judiciary and African judges in particular unsubstantiated, gratuitous and deeply hurtful comments.”
“I retract unequivocally my hurtful comments. I recognise that many women and men judges, past and present, have served their country in the judiciary with dedication and patriotism and some have made sterling sacrifices in the fight against apartheid and colonialism.
“I apologise for and regret the hurt I have caused the judiciary,” Sisulu said.
