JOHANNESBURG - Hundreds of South Africans will have to wait a while longer for answers about the South African economy.
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has postponed his live question and answer session meant to take place at 11 am on Monday morning.
According to Mboweni, he needs to consult former minister Fikile Mbalula. Mbalula holds no government position and is currently the head of the ANC elections.
The Q & A session has been postponed. We will do this once I have concluded consultations with Mr Fikile “Fearfokol” Mbalula.
— Tito Mboweni (@tito_mboweni) November 12, 2018
The minister announced last week that he would be hosting a question and answer session on Twitter and asked South Africans to submit their questions on the economy.
We will do a live Twitter Q and A session on Monday at 11.00. Be ready with your questions. Topic: the SA Economy.
— Tito Mboweni (@tito_mboweni) November 8, 2018
The move was seen as a way to include South Africans in the budget process and educate them on South Africa's economy.
Take a look at how SA Twitter users reacted to the news of the postponement below:
Somebody, Anyone, please take away Tito’s smartphone.
— Palesa Morudu (@palesa_morudu) November 12, 2018
We were raring to go😫
— Desiree Chauke (@DesireeChauke) November 12, 2018
So @MbalulaFikile is your boss?
— vusumuzi gcuma (@vusumuzigcuma) November 12, 2018
TWITTER 'MELTDOWN'
On Friday, the DA slammed Tito Mboweni for what they called a Twitter 'meltdown'.
This was after Mboweni posted a series of messages on Twitter.
Mboweni, who faces opposition over the continued government bailouts for South African Airways since he took over as finance minister last month, tweeted some coded messages about wars and collateral damage, insinuating the media's complicity in the "war".
"Wars start in different ways. Spears and shields, gunpowder, bullets, and now through media: printed and electronic (e.g. trade wars by a superpower President ), and then Social media!! Well, the SA Editors must be Editors!! If needs be, we will be forced into the fight, WAR!," he tweeted.
"Many people might not know this, I am a product of the warrior commanders of the mighty Zulu Army from the northern part of KZN, eNgwavuma, we fear nothing! We die only with spears on our chests NOT our backs. Mayihlome! We face the fire NOT run away from it. The time to be gentle is OVER. The line has been drawn on the sand! This far and no further."
David Maynier, DA spokesperson on finance, said Mboweni needs to get a grip and start acting like a finance minister in South Africa.