Former President Jacob Zuma has hit back at former police minister Fikile Mbalula on Twitter, following the African National Congress (ANC) election chief’s public rebuking of the former president for possibly violating party policy by appearing on stage at an official government event.

Zuma said that questions about his appearance at the official event this weekend should not be asked on social media.

On Saturday, Zuma posted a picture of himself attending an official event – the annual commemoration of Kgosi Mampuru II in Limpopo, alongside other official dignitaries, ministers and guests.

Zuma’s appearance looked official given his proximity to other ministers at the event, including Correctional Services Minister, Advocate Michael Masutha. President Cyril Ramaphosa has been on a state visit to India. Mbalula publicly questioned whether Zuma’s appearance at the event was appropriate, or whether it could be seen as a breach of ANC policy. Mbalula said that it was the kind of event that would ordinarily be attended by the sitting president, not the former one.

But on Sunday, Zuma hit back, and said that such a conversation should not happen on social media, especially so close to an election. He said it was possible that the discussion could lead to Mbalula educating himself on ANC “or vice versa”. Zuma said he was “keen” to explain things to Mbalula away from social media.