Mpumalanga Premier Police officer

Photo: SABC / Youtube

‘No mask, no respect’: Mpumalanga Premier breaks law at Mthembu funeral

One rule for them, and another for the rest of us, it seems. Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane made a mockery of mask-wearing laws on Sunday.

Mpumalanga Premier Police officer

Photo: SABC / Youtube

Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane is being chastised to high heaven on Sunday, after she blatantly disregarded all COVID-19 protocols when attending the funeral of Jackson Mthembu. The public official showed up at the service without wearing a mask, and seemed overly jovial upon her arrival, hugging some of the attendees.

Watch: Mpumalanga Premier ‘wears no mask’ at Mthembu funeral

The Premier has not declared that she has an exemption from wearing a mask, meaning that she has broken multiple laws here. Mtsweni-Tsipane, like the rest of us, is required to don a face-covering in public places AND while attending a funeral. Both rules were effortlessly flouted – and her behaviour was branded ‘inappropriate’ by some onlookers:

Jackson Mthembu service on Sunday 24 January

Political leaders and government officials made their way to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga, where the official funeral service for the late Minster in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu, is taking place this morning.

Part one of the programme started at Mthembu’s home in Ackerville, with a family prayer attended by African National Congress (ANC) leaders. Dr. Gwen Ramokgopa handed over the ANC flag to the Mthembu family in honour of the life of the late Minister. The flag handover is also a means of thanking the family for allowing Mthembu to work for the nation.

Among the ANC members attending the funeral were Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe and Deputy Minister of Correctional Services, Thabang Makwetla. President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived at the church to deliver the eulogy. Mthembu is being laid to rest at Pretoria Memorial Park Cemetery.

Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane: Mpumalanga Premier slammed for ignoring coronavirus laws

However, it would be the Mpumalanga Premier who made the headlines for all the wrong reasons. What is more, she is attending a funeral for someone who died of COVID-19 complications. At the very least, Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane owed Jackson Mthembu the respect to observe all necessary health protocols. Sadly, the incident has left a sour taste…