Mmusi Maimane Calls US Embassy Out over Statement on SA Tourism
- Mmusi Maimane has used social media to express his discontent for comments made by the United States Embassy
- The US Embassy advised tourists to not travel to South Africa not only due to Covid-19 but due to 'civil unrest, health and drought'
- Maimane was beyond unimpressed by the statement released by the US Embassy and shared a few tweets with his thoughts
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Former leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), Mmusi Maimane took to Twitter to defend as well as criticise the statements made by the US Embassy regarding the current state of South Africa and their advice that tourists should not to travel to South Africa due to Covid-19. The US Embassy issued a statement that began with:
"Do not travel to South Africa due to Covid-19. Exercise increased caution in South Africa due to crime! Civil unrest, health and drought".
The Embassy went on further to not only emphasis the level 4 "travel health notice for South Africa" issued by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) but also the high probability of a person being a victim of violent crime.
Maimane voiced his concern and criticism on Twitter by stating:
"America needs to respect us. No country is perfect but South Africa is still the best country to visit in Africa. We should issue our own travel advisory. Do not travel to America due to Covid19, police brutality, gang activity, crime, racism, political unrest, bad food."
Source: Getty Images
Maimane went on further in the comments of his very own tweet to further articulate his views by saying:
"I am very aware that we have challenges and I speak about them and challenge the government. Our nation is more than its problems. They must tell a more holistic story.
"Every country has crime hot spots, there are American neighbourhoods we can’t go to at night as well. Sometimes we allow portrayals of African states to go unchallenged. We are not dirty places that are just dangerous to visit. We have beautiful countries that have a lot to offer. We must be hesitant when reports about our states are just a list of negatives."
Take a look at some of the responses to Maimane's tweet below:
@DDT_PM wrote:
"No Mmusi, everything said in this article is a fact. I’m a South African and I can’t even visit townships like Alex or Thembisa alone especially in the evenings. Also in JHB CBD, they mug you daylight especially if you have your phone in your hand. Car hijacking happens daily."
@SibusisoLucky7 said:
"We need to respect ourselves before they can respect us."
Briefly News previously reported on Maimane when he stated that the Gupta family still had their hands in Eskom. Maimane believes that the Guptas are on the verge of receiving around R100 million from Eskom.
According to a statement released by Maimane-led One South Africa Movement, Eskom has given the 'green light' for a Gupta-controlled company to claim the aforementioned figure from Optimum Coal Mine.
Optimum Coal Mine supplies Eskom and, according to Maimane, Eskom has indirectly given power to Gupta affiliates in terms of inflated coal contracts.
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Source: Briefly News
