Ntshavheni Explains Controversial ‘Smoke Them Out’ Remark After Backlash, SA Muses: “Damage Control”

• Khumbudzo Ntshavheni further responded to backlash after making controversial remarks against illegal miners
• The Presidency Minister came under fire from the public after alluding to smoking out illegal miners trapped at Stilfontein
• After again attempting to set the record straight on the issue, critical locals online had polarising reactions to her latest post

JOHANNESBURG — It is probably safe to assume that Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has had her fill of criticism.

Barely two days after the politician posted a viral clip of heavily armed men having a good time underground, she furthered her stance on the matter of illegal miners expressed on Wednesday, 13 November 2024.

Ntshavheni explains controversial remark

Her highly scrutinised remarks at a media conference in Cape Town to discuss the outcomes of a cabinet meeting a week earlier drew sharp criticism.

Then, she stressed that the government would not help criminals as about 4,000 zama zamas reportedly starve underground at the disused Stilfontein mine in Klerksdorp, North-West.

Read also

"Can't let it slide": Woman finds chewed bubblegum in her frozen chicken pack

A crackdown on illicit mining has seen the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) blocking routes to deliver food and water to zama zamas.

In her latest post, Ntshavheni shared a captionless screenshot of a dictionary definition of "smoke them out".

It read:

Vocal online community split

When this story was published, her divisive post attracted 4700 likes, 1300 replies, and 1,000 comments. Reactions alternated between supportive and bashful as locals expressed firm views.

Briefly News looks at a few responses.

@ProfJNMoyo wrote:

"So, the public has smoked you out!"

@destinyzee said:

"Why do you have to explain, minister? Vele, they must be smoked out."

@dudu_sokhela added:

"Why find it necessary to explain after five days of damage? Never utter words you have no understanding of again in the future because you hear someone uttering them in corridors of [the] Union Buildings. Ask them first what they mean or check Dr Goggle first. Too late [to do] 'damage control'."

Read also

“At least you’re trying”: Fans react to Nasty C's attempt to speak Sesotho in a recent video

Court orders mine shaft unblocked

In other news, Briefly News reported that things unravelled amid a tense wait for illegal miners to resurface at the Stilfontein mine.

In a stunning turn of events, the Gauteng High Court in Tshwane law enforcement unblock a mine shaft on 16 November.

Source: Briefly News