Nazier Paulsen responds to Yunus Carrim’s speech in Parliament – Photo: Youtube screenshot / MyAfrica
Nazier Paulsen responds to Yunus Carrim’s speech in Parliament – Photo: Youtube screenshot / MyAfrica
What else could Gwede Mantashe have come to expect on Tuesday? With Parliament in session for the first time since his scandalous love affair with a 26-year-old student went public, he was stitched-up good and proper by EFF MP Nazier Paulsen, who used a “pet name” against the minister.
Gwede Mantashe hammered for “Tiger” nickname
During a tell-all interview with Sunday World, the love interest claimed that Mantashe was “a tiger” in bed. The Energy Minister has since made things worse, according to some sources: He’s been accused of bribing journalists to abandon the story and keep it out of the press.
His alleged R70 000 offer didn’t turn any heads, and rather than his sexual exploits, Gwede Mantashe is facing a much tougher time over his supposedly unethical behaviour. That doesn’t mean the EFF and their Parliamentary comrades still can’t have a bit of fun, though.
EFF MP wants to cage “The Tiger”
Paulsen is one of the great agitators in the National Assembly. He’s not afraid to throw a punch, get involved in a melee or just shoot his mouth off in a way that keeps us all entertained. He took a swipe at Mantashe, getting his claws out and dubbing the ANC stalwart “The Tiger” after he raised a brilliantly-obnoxious motion:
“Minister Gwede ‘The Tiger’ Manatshe is said to have bribed journalists not to write a story. He denies this. The alleged misconduct of the minister undermines our country’s democratic values. If ministers and leaders can admit to misconduct without consequences, this will normalise unethical behaviour.”
“A man who is willing to bribe journalists can be bribed himself, he cannot be trusted with public office. I move that ‘Minister Tiger’ must do the right thing and hand in his resignation from government, then he must take himself to the nearest police station immediately.”
Nazier Paulsen
EFF and Gwede Mantashe clash
The ANC, unsurprisingly, “vehemently opposed” the motion. The Tiger has been caged since the story broke, and has only popped up to deny all accusations against him. The fact that the 26-year-old flame was also seeing Tito Mboweni has practically become a bland subplot, as Gwede Mantashe remains firmly in the spotlight.
Paulsen: I rise on behalf of the EFF for the House to note the admission by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Mr. Gwede “The Tiger” Mantashe that he paid a bribe to two Sunday Times Journalists not to write a story.
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) October 29, 2019
