Cabanac’s plea fails to hit the mark

September 12, 2024 552

It seems Roman Cabanac’s letter in which he is defending his controversial remarks was not enough to keep him on the job.

Agriculture Minister, John Steenhuisen, has asked Roman Cabanac to consider resigning as the Chief of Staff.

Steenhuisen has acknowledged that he could have done due diligence before hiring the controversial podcaster and says he’s found his appointment destructing from the work of the department.

“And I think you should be judged on what you do when you’ve made a mistake and what you do with it. There is a HR discussion that’s underway. And frankly I find it far too destructing from the work of my ministry and of government that he is the news story than the work of government,” he says.

The Minister previously defended the appointment.

Cabanac, who gained notoriety over his skewed political and racists remarks on social media, has admitted to pushing boundaries just to gain attention.

In a letter he penned, Cabanac pleaded with South Africans to give him a chance to work and not judge him based on his past.

“In 2024, both our country and I changed. It dawned on me that my approach had not been constructive.”

He also alludes to the fact that he must be given a chance to work, similar to other officials who have faced public scrutiny.

Some experts believe that appointments similar to Cabanac will be a norm under the Government of National Unity (GNU).

The DA is perceived by some South Africans as a party that habours alleged racists, including now MP, Renaldo Gouws.

Political analyst, Goodenough Mashego, says Cabanac’s appointment is proof that the DA will always put white privilege first.

“The DA has always been a white party, even though it tried to diversify its constituency with the likes of Herman Mashaba and Mmusi Maimane.”

Mashego says the DA is now servicing its constituency as they cement their place in government, without looking whether or not they are tainted or not.