Floyd Shivambu

Floyd Shivambu apologises, takes “full responsibility” for “scuffle” with journalist

EFF Deputy President Floyd Shivambu has apologised for the “scuffle” that broke out between him and a journalist. According to him, the incident was not an assault.

Floyd Shivambu

Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) Deputy President Floyd Shivambu has issued a statement apologising and taking “full responsibility” for a “scuffle” between him and a journalist outside Parliament.

After arriving at Parliment on Tuesday morning, Shivambu was getting out of his car when Netwerk24 multimedia journalist Adrian De Kock approached him while taking photos. De Kock photographed Shivambu and proceeded to ask him for comment on a story.

De Kock claims that Shivambu then attempted to grab his camera and delete the picture.

After the incident sent shockwaves through social media, Shivambu issued his apology via official EFF communication.

According to the MP, he lost his patience with De Kock due to his persistence to talk to him while he was receiving documents.

“I accept that my impatience with the gentleman was inappropriate.”

“The scuffle happened and was never an assault on the Journalist or media freedom. I regret the incident and believe it should have been handled differently. I take full responsibility and apologise for engaging in a scuffle with a person I discovered after the incident is a Journalist. I will write and emailed an official apology on the scuffle because I believe it was not supposed to happen,” Shivambu said.

The statement goes on to insist that the EFF upholds “media freedom and freedom of association”. Shivambu also said he will not comment any further on the incident as there are “more important” things to talk about.

The ANC and DA were also quick to speak out against Shivambu’s actions.

ANC Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu “strongly condemned” the “violent behaviour” shown by Shivambu. Additionally, he called for the parliamentary speaker to investigate the incident and impose the necessary sanctions.

“It is very regrettable and completely unacceptable that a member of Parliament who also happens to be a Chief Whip of a party, can be found to be involved in such unbecoming behaviour. As parliamentarians, we must at all times be the custodians of our Constitution and our democracy, especially media freedom and freedom of expression.”

DA MP Phumzile Van Damme condemned the “assault” and strongly advised De Kock to lay criminal charges against Shivambu.

In 2012, Shivambu apologised after referring to a journalist as a “white bitch”.