Spin doctor defends alleged abuser

Esethu Hasane, the spokesman for the Minister of Sport and Recreation.

Esethu Hasane, the spokesman for the Minister of Sport and Recreation.

Published Oct 13, 2015

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Johannesburg - Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula’s spokesman, Esethu Hasane, has found himself at the centre of controversy again after seemingly defending an alleged abuser who was outed on Twitter.

On Monday, Hasane logged on to Twitter to find that popular tweleb Siyabonga Nyezi had allegedly been exposed by a woman who said he had allegedly physically abused her during their relationship.

The revelation raised the ire of Twitter users who defended her after reading her tweets about the alleged abuse.

They reported Nyezi, who has more than 20 000 followers, to Investec, the company where he works.

Hasane felt that that reaction wasn’t fair to Nyezi.

He tweeted: “Y’all are reachy now – why tag Siya’s employer on those tweets. How is wishing or calling for his job to be taken fair?

“I hate abuse against women. I also wouldn’t wish someone to be unemployed no matter how much of an ass they’re. They still have to eat. Getting someone fired won’t end his abuse.”

Although many pointed out that abuse was illegal – rather than just “unfair”, as he termed it – he stuck to his guns.

@MaS1banda tweeted: “On a day when a woman’s abuse is raised, u chose to focus on the man losing a job.”

She was echoed by @Bikomfident, who wrote: “I don’t have a problem with Esethu being a dingbat in a political topic but this is beyond his office jokes. This is a human rights issue.”

After tweeting this: “Unemployment is abuse itself – I won’t wish it on anyone!!”, Hasane retracted his tweets on “the abuse debacle”, saying they were “stupid and shouldn’t have seen the light of day”.

But he soon followed by tweeting: “Being unemployed is the worst thing ever.”

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The Star

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