WATCH: Mapisa-Nqakula accused of shading Malema at King Sigcawu’s funeral
The party leader could be seen looking wounded after his party was yet again renamed the Economic Freedom Front.
Members of the EFF at the funeral of amaXhosa king King Zwelonke Sigcawu. Picture: Twitter
Minister of Defence and Military Services Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula spoke at the funeral of amaXhosa King Zwelonke Sigcawu on Friday, with her speech’s reference to the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leaving people on social media wondering if the minister had insulted Julius Malema and his party.
Mapisa-Nqakula referred to the “Economic Freedom Front” and their leader Malema.
Someone corrected the minister, who then said: “Oh no, that’s an insult” and apologised.
“You are not the Freedom Front at all, far from it,” she said.
In the SABC footage of the speech, the camera cuts to Malema looking wounded, while EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi appeared to take the error on the chin, as he can be seen smiling.
Picture: Screenshot.
It is unclear if this was a genuine insult or just an error, but some of those who responded to it on social media seemed to see it as an intentional slight.
If it was intentional, the “Economic Freedom Front” is not Mapisa-Nqakula’s invention.
In August, after President Cyril Ramaphosa successfully obtained an interdict stopping him from enacting remedial action Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane called for him enforce against Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, Judge Lettie Molopa-Sethosa referred to the EFF as the “Economic Freedom Front” several times while reading her judgment.
The judge acknowledged the mistake and apologised for it at one point.
Now @ King Mpendulo Zwelonke Sigcawu Funeral Service @EFFSouthAfrica is Economic Front and is lead by our CIC @Julius_S_Malema uMamu Nosiviwe Ngqakula does not like us, as fighters but we are not shock by her behavour as usual she disrespected MamuWinnie. We will stand 4 Truth.
— Vuyisa Mzayifani (@Vuyisa77840764) November 29, 2019
#InkosiZwelonkefuneral
Did Nosiviwe Nqakula miss pronounced Economic Freedom Fighters,by mistake or it was a deliberately act to undermine EFF 🤔?— Mondli Dube (@Azania_Umoja) November 29, 2019
https://twitter.com/ZSinxo/status/1200339749275348992
Did Maphisa-Nqakula just shade EFF?😂 I can't wait for tomorrow#AmaxhosaKingFuneral
— Sisipho_Chloe🌻🌼🌸 (@ChloeSisipho) November 29, 2019
(Compiled by Daniel Friedman)
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