Johannesburg - ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) spokesperson Toko Xasa has condemned Social Development spokesperson Lumka Oliphant’s “vulgar” Facebook rant, stating the remarks to be against what the League stands for in society.
“While freedom of speech is allowed, it needs to be done in a manner that shows respect for others and recognises women’s rights as human rights, and some of the language used by Ms Oliphant is contrary to that.”
Xasa also denied allegations that Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini was a drunk, stating that she does not drink and despises the use of alcohol.
“We have noted the social media utterances made by Ms Oliphant. She is employed by the Department of Social Development and not by the ANCWL so we trust government to handle the matter in an amicable manner.”
Media consultant and communications expert Rams Mabote also weighed-in on Oliphant’s rant. Mabote, who referred to Oliphant as a “spin doctor”, sympathised with her, stating “we are all human after all”.
But he said her anger and frustration was self inflicted.
“We choose how we react to what happens to us, and that is more important than what happens to us. In fact, in Lumka’s case, her anger and frustration were even more misplaced because the ‘lies’ were about her boss, not Lumka.”
He believes Oliphant might have taken orders from her boss, which he thinks might have been the cause of the foully worded rant.
“Lumka chose to own the insult or ‘lies’ published about her boss. That was not necessary. That was wrong.”
Mabote, a former spokesperson, offered “spin doctors” advice on how to handle such situations.
“The job of a spokesperson is to say to the boss, ‘let me handle this’. Second, tough as it may be, a good spokesperson separates themselves from their boss. However much we are close to our principals, we cannot own their problems. Ours is a job of communicating the work they do.”
He added that spokespeople needed to assume the role of a mediator between the principal and the aggressor.
ANC provincial spokesperson Yonela Diko said that Oliphant’s point should not be missed.
Diko said journalists should have integrity and seek the truth at all times.