Johannesburg, RSA
29.April.2014
The ANC may have to apologise to yet another African country after a faux pas from one of its leaders.
Speaking at a breakfast briefing with editors in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning, Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula had a case of foot in mouth syndrome regarding Kenya's sporting acumen.
Mbalula was addressing journalists around the theme of social cohesion, when a reporter questioned the issue of some national teams remaining stubbornly white.
"You can't transform sports without targets," said Mbalula who has battled with the issue of racial quotas for some time. But at the same time, South Africa wouldn't be like Kenya and send athletes to the Olympics to "drown in the pool", he said in one bizarre moment that reminded some of ANC president Jacob Zuma's own faux pas over Malawian roads.
The comment was met with some titters in the room and an embarrassed grin from the rest of the assembled ANC leaders. The comment also drew some alarm on Twitter.
Arrogance
The statement was regarded as characteristic of a general arrogance against the rest of the continent from South Africans, that was reflected in the ANC and its leaders.
"Zuma is merely airing an often shy and hidden reality of the perceptions and arrogance that many South Africans share," Ebrahim Fakir, a political analyst, told the Daily Maverick at the time.
The attitude is a slap in the face for many African countries who provided much support to the ANC in exile during apartheid.
If our diplomats are summoned in Kenya to explain the remark, let's hope an apology will be quickly forthcoming.
Source: Mbalula missteps with 'drowning' Kenyan athletes comment | National | National | Mail & Guardian
29.April.2014
The ANC may have to apologise to yet another African country after a faux pas from one of its leaders.
Speaking at a breakfast briefing with editors in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning, Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula had a case of foot in mouth syndrome regarding Kenya's sporting acumen.
Mbalula was addressing journalists around the theme of social cohesion, when a reporter questioned the issue of some national teams remaining stubbornly white.
"You can't transform sports without targets," said Mbalula who has battled with the issue of racial quotas for some time. But at the same time, South Africa wouldn't be like Kenya and send athletes to the Olympics to "drown in the pool", he said in one bizarre moment that reminded some of ANC president Jacob Zuma's own faux pas over Malawian roads.
The comment was met with some titters in the room and an embarrassed grin from the rest of the assembled ANC leaders. The comment also drew some alarm on Twitter.
Arrogance
The statement was regarded as characteristic of a general arrogance against the rest of the continent from South Africans, that was reflected in the ANC and its leaders.
"Zuma is merely airing an often shy and hidden reality of the perceptions and arrogance that many South Africans share," Ebrahim Fakir, a political analyst, told the Daily Maverick at the time.
The attitude is a slap in the face for many African countries who provided much support to the ANC in exile during apartheid.
If our diplomats are summoned in Kenya to explain the remark, let's hope an apology will be quickly forthcoming.
Source: Mbalula missteps with 'drowning' Kenyan athletes comment | National | National | Mail & Guardian
