ANC veteran Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has come out in support of minister in the presidency Jeff Radebe after he apologised for sending racy text messages to a junior staff member.
The Star reported on Tuesday that Radebe had been summoned to Madikizela-Mandela’s home to explain himself.
Radebe visited Madikizela-Mandela on Sunday‚ accompanied by his wife Bridgette.
“This is the kind of leadership we require. We all make mistakes and we must take responsibility for them. It takes a real man to apologise‚ and Jeff has done that‚” Madikizela-Mandela told the newspaper after the meeting.
The Sunday Times reported this week that Radebe had exchanged text messages and e-mails in which he had asked for nude pictures of a 29-year-old Union Buildings photographer‚ Siyasanga Mbambani.
In an interview with The Star published on Tuesday‚ Radebe said: “I sincerely regret engaging in the text and email conversations‚ which are improper for a married man. However‚ beyond those exchanges‚ there was never a relationship and the communication was never acrimonious.”
He added: “I apologise for the embarrassment caused to Ms Mbambani‚ to my wife‚ my family‚ all South Africans and my movement‚ the ANC. I should have known better and I take full responsibility for my actions.”
The newspaper said Radebe had also apologised to fellow ANC leaders at a meeting of the party’s national working committee.
