SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENT BY FORMER MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
The Presidency has received media enquiries about a reported comment on social media by former ANC Member of Parliament, Ms Vytjie Mentor.
President Jacob Zuma has no recollection of Ms Mentor. He is therefore unable to comment on any alleged incident in her career.
Update:
PRESIDENCY MAINTAINS NO RECOLLECTION OF MS MENTOR
The Presidency refutes the misleading media reports stating that the former ANC MP, Ms Vytjie Mentor “accompanied” President Jacob Zuma on as state visit to India in 2010.
Such reports are an attempt to dispute the Presidency assertion that that the President has no recollection of the former MP.
Ms Mentor was definitely not part of the official delegation to India, should she have travelled to the country during the State Visit.
By stating that Ms Mentor “accompanied” President Zuma on a State Visit to India, the media gives the public an incorrect impression of a status similar to that of Ministers or Deputy Ministers who receive direct formal invitations from the President to accompany him on State Visits, and who then join him on all official engagements during the visit as members of the official delegation.
The Presidency reiterates that the President has no recollection of Ms Mentor and is not aware of the alleged incidents in her career that she has reportedly written about on social media.
Update:
CORRECTION: STATE VISIT TO CHINA NOT INDIA
The Presidency refutes the misleading media reports stating that the former ANC MP, Ms Vytjie Mentor “accompanied” President Jacob Zuma on as state visit to China, not India, in 2010.
Such reports are an attempt to dispute the Presidency assertion that that the President has no recollection of the former MP.
Ms Mentor was definitely not part of the official delegation to the People's Republic of China, should she have travelled to the country during the State Visit.
By stating that Ms Mentor “accompanied” President Zuma on a State Visit to China, the media gives the public an incorrect impression of a status similar to that of Ministers or Deputy Ministers who receive direct formal invitations from the President to accompany him on State Visits, and who then join him on all official engagements during the visit as members of the official delegation.
The Presidency reiterates that the President has no recollection of Ms Mentor and is not aware of the alleged incidents in her career that she has reportedly written about on social media.
Statement issued by Bongani Majola, The Presidency, 15 March 2016
