Under fire Mpumalanga premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane says she did not know that her mask was off when she walked out of her official car at the cemetery during the funeral of minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu in eMalahleni yesterday.
Mtshweni-Tsipane ignited a furore when she appeared publicly not wearing a mask, smiling and giving hugs to mourners as she strolled out of the cemetery where Mthembu was laid to rest.
The premier's disregard for Covid-19 regulations which make it a criminal offence for anyone not to wear a mask in public led to a backlash on social media, where the pictures first surfaced.
According to lockdown laws, failure to wear a mask in public could cost an offender a R1,500 fine. Fines may also be accompanied by a jail sentence, not exceeding six months.
As calls for action to be taken against her gained momentum, Mtshweni-Tsipane's office said in a statement yesterday that her mask was "somehow damaged and she was oblivious of that when it fell".
"She thought it was intact as it was the case throughout. The premier’s aides promptly sought a replacement mask, which the premier utilised for the rest of the proceedings,” said her spokesperson Sibongile Mkani-Mpolweni.
“The premier has extended an apology to the people of Mpumalanga for that momentary lapse wherein her mask fell without her being aware or conscious of it."
Mtshweni-Tsipane is the chair of the Mpumalanga provincial command council, which oversees the government's response to Covid-19, including driving the communication strategy largely aimed at urging the general public to practise social distancing and wear face masks in public.
Her gaffe and breach of Covid-19 regulations led to the EFF chair in Mpumalanga, Collen Sedibe, calling for her immediate arrest and suspension.
“The president said if one is found not wearing a mask in public, he or she must be arrested and serve a period of time in jail or pay a certain fine. We expect the same to happen to the premier," Sedibe said.
He said Mtshweni-Tsipane had failed to lead by example, especially at a funeral of someone who died as a result of Covid-19.
"She’s irresponsible and has proved to be against the government of the country. What happened to minister Abrahams [Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams] must happen to her and now she must face the law too because the regulations have been amended allowing the police to arrest."
Prof Alex van den Heever, chair in the field of social security systems administration and management studies at the Wits School of Governance, said it was unacceptable that some in the governing party acted as though some rules did not apply to them.
"All non-compliance should result in a prosecution. In addition the party should issue a public apology," Van den Heever said.
Prof Shabir Madhi, a vaccinologist at Wits University, said policy leaders needed to lead by example and this created "mixed messages which could lead to more people being dismissive".
DA spokesperson Siviwe Gwarube said: "It is deeply unfortunate and irresponsible to have a leader of the province not practising the message that she has preached consistently to all South Africans."
Police spokesperson Brig Vish Naidoo said police would not single out individuals but that if anyone was found not wearing a mask they would be charged and prosecuted.
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