Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela. Picture: X @dirco South African politicians and prominent figures must not make utterances that will damage the country’s image, especially internally. A few days ago, Monyela responded to a user who proposed that South Africa should pursue nuclear capabilities as a means of protecting Nelson Mandela’s peace-loving nation from socalled imperialist forces.
As soon as people started attacking him, he deleted it and posted a message that: “I have deleted this comment. Poorly framed. I have no issues with apologising for it.
SA remains committed to a nuclear-free world except for scientific, medical and energy use, etc. That remains the policy position of the government.” When called for comment yesterday, he referred the journalist to his X account to see his apology. Reputation management strategist Solly Moeng toldThe CitizenMonyela’s remarks could have been “dangerous”.
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Tshepo Matseba, MD of Reputation 1st, a strategic communication and reputation management consultancy, said Monyela should have exercised greater discipline. “Public diplomacy is not casual commentary. It is strategic signalling on behalf of the state.
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