A junior official in premier Phumulo Masualle’s office had to physically intervene to prevent a heated exchange of words between two senior communications managers from spilling into violence.
This happened while the premier was conducting a state programme in Lusikisiki over the weekend. Bodyguards apparently watched but only one later intervened.
Masualle’s provincial communications general manager Mandisa Titi and her counterpart Sonwabo Mbananga, the premier’s spokesman, were attending an event to mark the end of Women’s Month held in Lusikisiki on Friday, when the two had a disagreement on how to handle the media during the event.
Eyewitnesses said the two hurled insults at each other and threatened to physically attack each other. This was, however, avoided thanks to the intervention of the official and one VIP bodyguard who held Mbananga back, preventing him from retaliating after Titi allegedly threatened “undiqhekeza” – meaning to physically attack Mbananga.
The incident took place just outside a room in which Masualle was briefing stakeholders, including the media, about the province’s plans on how to deal with gender-based violence.
Titi said the incident started when she asked Mbananga to take her through the plan to handle the media because it was “getting chaotic”. But Mbananga refused to speak to her and later hurled insults at her, threatening to slap and punch her.
“He surged forward, desperately wanting to physically attack me in full view of others.”
But Mbananga denied ever hurling insults or threatening to attack Titi, saying this was as a result of “professional jealousy”.
Mbananga said: “There is no truth to allegations that I insulted and violently threatened her. She wanted to speak to me and I refused because she had earlier messed up our media plans for the day,” said Mbananga.
However, Titi was adamant that she was the victim, and has since filed a case with police.
“If it was not for the official I was walking with and who had to forcefully restrain him, I could have been severely assaulted and injured.
“I am mad because this happened during Women’s Month, while I am at work, and while the premier was talking about the fight against gender-based violence. I am crying because I saw the face of violence and abuse,” she added.
Titi said the incident was such a public spat, it also “violated my dignity”. She said what hurt her most was that: “I am old enough to be his mother. I was crying when the premier was making his keynote speech because while he was doing so, he did not know that his spokesperson was doing just the opposite of what he was preaching to the people right under his nose,” said Titi.
Mbananga had a different breakdown of events. He said it was Titi who provoked and insulted him in full view of the public.
“She insulted me and told me “uzandiqhekeza” (“I will hit you”). I was provoked and merely told her she was mistaken if she thought she could assault me.”
The former defence minister’s spokesman said the incident was just part of a campaign aimed at damaging his reputation.
The Dispatch can reveal today that Eastern Cape director-general Marion Mbina-Mthembu is likely to convene a meeting between the two today, to try and get a version of events from each of them.
This was after Titi reported the matter to Mbina-Mthembu.
While Mbananga is responsible for Masualle’s communication, Titi’s brief is to oversee governance communications.
The Dispatch has reported several times about simmering tensions in the OTP, especially in the communications unit.
Titi confirmed yesterday that her relationship with Mbananga had been “uphill” since he joined the office earlier this year.
Some senior OTP officials, according to sources, have left the unit in recent months amid claims of conflict within the unit’s senior management.
In recent months, media liaison officer at Masualle’s office, Nonala Ndlovu resigned, while former government spokeswoman Nomfanelo Kota also allegedly left in a huff.
Provincial health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo, who also joined Masualle’s communications team as a cabinet spokesman in 2015, left after just a few months due to ongoing tensions in the same unit.
Titi confirmed yesterday that working relations between her and Mbananga, have been strained for some time, “but I never thought to such an extent that it would lead to such verbal abuse and violence”.
Mbananga also confirmed the tensions, saying he has even written a letter to his bosses and asked them to intervene in the “ongoing tiff” between him and Titi.
Titi said she reported Friday’s incident and the DG promised to call an urgent meeting between the two today.
Mbina-Mthembu yesterday refused to comment on the incident or about today’s meeting, only saying she did receive text messages about the incident. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Premier’s aides in public fight
This happened while the premier was conducting a state programme in Lusikisiki over the weekend. Bodyguards apparently watched but only one later intervened.
Masualle’s provincial communications general manager Mandisa Titi and her counterpart Sonwabo Mbananga, the premier’s spokesman, were attending an event to mark the end of Women’s Month held in Lusikisiki on Friday, when the two had a disagreement on how to handle the media during the event.
Eyewitnesses said the two hurled insults at each other and threatened to physically attack each other. This was, however, avoided thanks to the intervention of the official and one VIP bodyguard who held Mbananga back, preventing him from retaliating after Titi allegedly threatened “undiqhekeza” – meaning to physically attack Mbananga.
The incident took place just outside a room in which Masualle was briefing stakeholders, including the media, about the province’s plans on how to deal with gender-based violence.
Titi said the incident started when she asked Mbananga to take her through the plan to handle the media because it was “getting chaotic”. But Mbananga refused to speak to her and later hurled insults at her, threatening to slap and punch her.
“He surged forward, desperately wanting to physically attack me in full view of others.”
But Mbananga denied ever hurling insults or threatening to attack Titi, saying this was as a result of “professional jealousy”.
Mbananga said: “There is no truth to allegations that I insulted and violently threatened her. She wanted to speak to me and I refused because she had earlier messed up our media plans for the day,” said Mbananga.
However, Titi was adamant that she was the victim, and has since filed a case with police.
“If it was not for the official I was walking with and who had to forcefully restrain him, I could have been severely assaulted and injured.
“I am mad because this happened during Women’s Month, while I am at work, and while the premier was talking about the fight against gender-based violence. I am crying because I saw the face of violence and abuse,” she added.
Titi said the incident was such a public spat, it also “violated my dignity”. She said what hurt her most was that: “I am old enough to be his mother. I was crying when the premier was making his keynote speech because while he was doing so, he did not know that his spokesperson was doing just the opposite of what he was preaching to the people right under his nose,” said Titi.
Mbananga had a different breakdown of events. He said it was Titi who provoked and insulted him in full view of the public.
“She insulted me and told me “uzandiqhekeza” (“I will hit you”). I was provoked and merely told her she was mistaken if she thought she could assault me.”
The former defence minister’s spokesman said the incident was just part of a campaign aimed at damaging his reputation.
The Dispatch can reveal today that Eastern Cape director-general Marion Mbina-Mthembu is likely to convene a meeting between the two today, to try and get a version of events from each of them.
This was after Titi reported the matter to Mbina-Mthembu.
While Mbananga is responsible for Masualle’s communication, Titi’s brief is to oversee governance communications.
The Dispatch has reported several times about simmering tensions in the OTP, especially in the communications unit.
Titi confirmed yesterday that her relationship with Mbananga had been “uphill” since he joined the office earlier this year.
Some senior OTP officials, according to sources, have left the unit in recent months amid claims of conflict within the unit’s senior management.
In recent months, media liaison officer at Masualle’s office, Nonala Ndlovu resigned, while former government spokeswoman Nomfanelo Kota also allegedly left in a huff.
Provincial health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo, who also joined Masualle’s communications team as a cabinet spokesman in 2015, left after just a few months due to ongoing tensions in the same unit.
Titi confirmed yesterday that working relations between her and Mbananga, have been strained for some time, “but I never thought to such an extent that it would lead to such verbal abuse and violence”.
Mbananga also confirmed the tensions, saying he has even written a letter to his bosses and asked them to intervene in the “ongoing tiff” between him and Titi.
Titi said she reported Friday’s incident and the DG promised to call an urgent meeting between the two today.
Mbina-Mthembu yesterday refused to comment on the incident or about today’s meeting, only saying she did receive text messages about the incident. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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