Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has apologised to the people of Kouga and South Africans following a heated confrontation with a community member during an engagement in Loerie in the Eastern Cape.
The incident happened on 9 September 2026 during Majodina’s visit to the Kouga Local Municipality for the launch of the upgraded Loerie Sewer Pump Station.
Footage of the confrontation later circulated widely on social media, showing a resident being escorted from the venue during a tense exchange. The resident directed a profane insult at Majodina, who responded with the same vulgar language.
The incident sparked criticism of the minister’s conduct and renewed discussion about how public representatives should conduct themselves during difficult engagements with communities.
Majodina says she regrets her reaction
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Majodina acknowledged her conduct and said she took full responsibility for her response.
“In the heat of the moment, I reacted after being subjected to profane language. I take full responsibility for my conduct and deeply regret responding by using the same words directed at me,” she said.
Majodina then apologised directly to the wider community and the public.
“I sincerely apologise to the people of Kouga and to all South Africans,” she said.
She acknowledged that public representatives can experience frustration, but said this does not remove their responsibility to remain composed.
“While public representatives are human and can, like anyone else, experience moments of frustration, this does not diminish the responsibility we carry to remain composed. I accept that responsibility and will continue to learn from this experience,” she said.
Community engagement turns confrontational
The engagement followed the launch of the upgraded Loerie Sewer Pump Station, a project valued at approximately R5.98 million.
The meeting was intended to give residents an opportunity to receive feedback following the completion of government infrastructure projects and to raise issues affecting the community.
According to Kouga Municipality administrator Kyle Minnaar, the confrontation occurred during a question-and-answer session when a resident spoke out of turn and was asked to leave the venue.
Minnaar, who witnessed the exchange, criticised the minister’s conduct.
“It’s disappointing to see a minister act in such a fashion, disrespecting a member of the community but also the entire community,” he said, according to The Citizen.
The incident has consequently shifted attention from the infrastructure project itself to the conduct of those involved in the community engagement.
Minister calls for mutual respect
While accepting responsibility for her own reaction, Majodina also stressed that community engagements require respect from all sides.
She said residents should be able to raise concerns, but that these concerns should be communicated in a way that allows for constructive discussion and possible solutions.
“At the same time, meaningful community engagement requires mutual respect. Communities must be able to express concerns in a manner that enables constructive dialogue and solutions,” she said.
Majodina said she remained committed to engaging communities and listening to their concerns.
“I remain committed to engaging communities, listening to their concerns, and serving the people of South Africa with humility, accountability and dedication,” she said.
Ethics complaints follow
The controversy has also resulted in calls for accountability, with opposition parties reporting that ethics complaints have been lodged over the minister’s conduct. eNCA reported that Majodina was facing at least two ethics complaints in Parliament.
The incident comes at a time when public representatives continue to face scrutiny over their conduct during engagements with communities, particularly where meetings become tense or residents raise difficult concerns.
Majodina’s apology now places the focus on how the matter will be handled beyond the public apology and whether further accountability processes will follow.
