Ntsiki Mazwai Slams SAPS Spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe's Lashes in Viral Post

• Ntsiki Mazwai sparked a heated debate after commenting on SAPS spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe's appearance during a press briefing
• The Johannesburg mayoral candidate doubled down after facing backlash for focusing on lashes rather than the disciplinary hearing update
• Mzansi was split, with some agreeing with Mazwai's views on professionalism and others calling her comments misplaced

Johannesburg mayoral candidate and former poet Ntsiki Mazwai found herself at the centre of a social media storm after shifting attention away from a major policing story to comment on a state official's appearance.

On 30 September 2026, Mazwai quote-retweeted a post from @Moloi_Herman1 confirming that suspended deputy national police commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya would face an expedited disciplinary hearing. Rather than engage with the substance of the update, Mazwai zeroed in on SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe's look during the briefing.

"I know you're not going to like this, but I wish state officials were not allowed to do these fake things of lashes and stuff. It's so distracting and just looks so unprofessional. We are the only race of women obsessed with fake standards of beauty. It's embarrassing," Mazwai wrote.

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The post drew swift criticism from followers who felt she had missed the point entirely. However, rather than stepping back, Mazwai clarified and expanded her position.

Mazwai doubles down on professionalism argument

In a follow-up post, Mazwai distanced herself from any suggestion that she was policing women's personal choices.

"My point is not that women should not wear wigs, lashes, extensions or have cosmetic procedures. I am talking about the distinction between personal expression and institutional presentation. When you wear a police uniform or occupy public office, you are representing an institution and the public, not simply yourself," she wrote.

She added that police forces and public institutions across the world enforce appearance standards because "professionalism, restraint, discipline and public confidence are part of how authority is communicated."

For many, the controversy recalled Mazwai's long history of controversial remarks about Black women who wear weaves rather than their natural hair, which has drawn criticism in the past.

Mzansi reacts to Ntsiki's views

Opinions on the matter were sharply divided. Here is what some users had to say:

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@carthue:

"Brig Mathe was briefing the nation on a disciplinary hearing for a deputy national commissioner, and the takeaway is her lashes? Women in public roles get judged on their looks before their words. Her credibility sits in her work, not her eyelashes."

@Ke_Mpho_M:

"Ntsiki is right on this one, but she will get attacked cause this came from her. See it is very important to examine what is said instead of the one speaking..."

@BigDawg_9505:

"As a mayoral candidate, and that's where you are most focused at? lol come on sis, there's a war going outside, and you wanna talk about wigs and eyelashes?? 😂"

Shimza meets Nota

In a previous report frm Briefly News, Shimza finally meets Nota Baloyi and jokingly searches his pockets in a video, after a court ordered Nota to pay R200,000 plus legal costs in a defamation case.

Source: Briefly News