Cape Town - Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has accused sports presenter Robert Marawa of running a vendetta against him.
Mbalula said the popular talk show host has also targeted Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane‚ former Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba and Orlando Pirates and Premier Soccer League chairperson, Dr Irvin Khoza.
The spat between the two of them reared up about a fortnight ago when Marawa accused the Sports Minister of acting like 'Tarzan' during the bid to secure the 2022 Commonwealth Games hosting rights.
Mbalula hit back against Marawa on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon after it became known that Durban had lost the right to host the Games.
He also says he'll be taking the Metro FM presenter to court after Marawa allegedly accused the Sports Minister of trying to get him fired.
"Robert Marawa has a personal vendetta against me‚ with time he will be exposed. I don't have time for chaps like that," Mbalula tweeted.
"The charge he made that I tried to get him fired from Metro FM he will answer very soon in court‚ period."
"I will get my name cleared in a court of law‚ that's my recourse‚ I didn't get anybody fired‚ instead I protected."
Mbalula also hit out at Marawa for not giving him the opportunity to address the nation on his show and says the presenter also has an issue with several other leading footballing figures.
"I have never been afraid to appear at Metro FM‚ Metro station doesn't belong to Robert Marawa‚" Mbalula stated.
"He didn't invite me to his show to speak about Durban 2022‚ I am not afraid of this guy.
"He ran the same campaign against Pitso Mosimane‚ Shakes Mashaba‚ Irvin Khoza and now me. I will never allow it.
"So Robert Marawa must run an anti-Mbalula campaign disguised as public discourse‚ nonsense. This vendetta will be exposed."
In an exclusive interview with Channel24, Mbalula revealed that Marawa invited him to the show last year, but could not make the proposed date.
"I mean I have never had anything against Robert, I responded to him when he interacted with me. When it came to the (Commonwealth) Games he disagreed with us.
"Which is also fine we are not twins. He is the first guy who criticises us. In that Room Dividers (a segment on Robert's show on Metro FM) Robert Marawa organised people in the studio to attack me. I then wrote a letter to Metro FM.
"Metro FM got back to me and said I have a right to respond. There is no beef with Robert. He is the one who said the department 'is acting like Tarzan.'"