South Africa’s major political parties have all expressed mixed reactions to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to place Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave following her flouting the lockdown rules.

Ndabeni-Abrahams was summoned by Ramaphosa to a meeting on Tuesday, after a photo of her having a meal at the home of former Deputy Education Minister Mduduzi Manana did the rounds on social media.

She is on special leave for two months, one of which is without pay, and has apologised to the nation, as part of the action taken against her by Ramaphosa.

Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Phumzile Van Damme expressed the party’s disappointment towards Ramaphosa, saying it was important for the President to send out a strong message to the public by firing and laying a criminal complaint against Ndabeni-Abrahams.

“The President’s announcement this morning that he has censured Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams is better than nothing, and far more than we have come to expect of the governing party, but we cannot praise a fish for attempting to move a fin in order to swim,” explained Van Damme.

Ramaphosa expressed his disapproval towards Ndabeni-Abrahams’s actions, telling her that she undermined lockdown regulations which required all citizens to stay at home to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19).

Van Damme said the DA was worried that Ndabeni-Abrahams’s actions might result in public disobedience of the order to stay at home.

“As Minister, a leader and an MP, Ndabeni-Abrahams has a responsibility that exceeds that of the public in setting the example while our country tries to contain a global pandemic that has infected over a million and killed over 80 000 globally. She ought to know better,” stated Van Damme.

The party noted Ndabeni-Abrahams’s apology, saying it was a little too late.

Van Damme challenged Ramaphosa to address the nation together with the Minister of Police Bheki Cele and the National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole to assure the nation that South African Police Services will indeed act against Ndabeni-Abrahams.

However, the Inkatha Freedom Party was pleased with Ramaphosa’s action against Ndabeni-Abrahams.

“We welcome law enforcement in ensuring that absolute compliance to the lockdown regulations is observed and that Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams is subjected to penalty because she is not above the law. Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams’ regrettable and irresponsible actions during the lockdown, which will now be met with harsh penalty, may serve as a lesson to all South Africans that no citizen should break the gazetted rules of the lockdown and that law enforcement will take its course,” said the IFP.

Further, the African National Congress (ANC) said on Wednesday that it welcomed the decision taken by Ramaphosa to place Ndabeni-Abrahams on leave.

"The African National Congress fully supports and welcomes the decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to place Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Comrade Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for breaching lockdown regulations," said party spokesperson Pule Mabe.

The ANC has called on all South Africans to "respect and abide by the letter and spirit of all lockdown regulations in order to effectively disrupt the chain of transmission occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic".

"The national effort to contain and slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus is based on united action and social solidarity. The message is clear, the lockdown is meant for all of us. Stay at home."