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Cape Town - Sport minister Fikile Mbalula has come in for widespread criticism following his extraordinary Twitter tirade with SA Olympic javelin thrower, Sunette Viljoen.
On Monday Mbalula took to social media to post no fewer than 12 tweets slating Viljoen who has asked when she can expect payment of a R70 000 "bonus" Mbalula had promised to silver medal winners upon Team SA's return from the Rio Olympics some 11 weeks ago.
Viljoen had taken to Twitter herself earlier in the day to upload a text conversation she had with Mbalula in which she asked the minister when he would make good on his promise as she "really needs it (the money)".
Mbalula responded, writing: “You said you don’t need it. So I stick with your wishes” to which Viljoen replied confirming she “never ever” uttered those words.
Mbalula had promised all gold medal winners a R100 000 bonus, all silver medalists R70 000 and bronze medal winners R50 000.
In addition, according to a City Press article, Mbalula is still to deliver on another monetary promise - to those who excelled at this year's Comrades Marathon nearly six months ago.
Mbalula had announced a R100 000 bonus to winners of the race in May, including R40 000 for second-place finishers and R20 000 for third-place achievers.
The public leapt to Viljoen's defence, with social media flooded with tweets sympathetic to her plight from fellow Olympians and notable personalities, while others suggested she may have a legal case against Mbalula and urged Viljoen's Rio Games team-mates to speak out in support and confirm whether they too were awaiting payment.
SA athletes fighting now for Olympic medal money @MbalulaFikile #disappointing We wonder why we don't win more medals. This is a reason https://t.co/HHcQV3d4OH
— Roland Schoeman (@Rolandschoeman) November 7, 2016
For context, Mbalula is our esteemed sports minister, the highest government official in sport. We are a circus of ineptitude & dishonesty https://t.co/DtW7FrPwew
— Ross Tucker (@Scienceofsport) November 7, 2016
@Sunette_Viljoen @Rolandschoeman proud of you guys standing up to bullies like @MbalulaFikile. More medal winners should. @chadleclos
— Nick Turner (@nick_f_turner) November 8, 2016
@Sunette_Viljoen @MbalulaFikile very unprofessional. He doesn't need to make this personal.
— #IAmLandless (@TSDhlamini) November 7, 2016
Care to explain @MbalulaFikile?@teamsa16??
— Saya Pierce-Jones (@saya_pj) November 7, 2016
Or do we only have money for your favourite soccer sports teams?? https://t.co/sArTT3ecc7
Our Sports Minister is just a JOKE like the rest of the Administration his part of!! https://t.co/SzbxsB4Yq3
— Lwazi (@SBN_57) November 7, 2016
Razzmatazz Mr Christmas!#mbalula @Sunette_Viljoen #rio2016 #cartoon pic.twitter.com/hikgBhqnqm
— Paulie Cartoons (@PaulieCartoons) November 8, 2016
No, Minister! - our Social Media Law Expert delves into the @Sunette_Viljoen vs Sports Minister Twar https://t.co/DuB6GALSkW pic.twitter.com/VWs1p8AY2s
— East Coast Breakfast (@ECRBreakfast) November 8, 2016
@eNCA Mbalula must serve the public... @Sunette_Viljoen did a great job at Rio by not only representing S.A but Africa as a whole.
— Kwanele Ngobese (@N_Kwanele) November 8, 2016
@MbalulaFikile your tweets regarding @Sunette_Viljoen are unacceptable and disgraceful. You are a clown in a suit. Truly unbelievable.
— Brett Roux (@BrettRoux) November 7, 2016
For all the comments he made yesterday, it's more than a bit silly that Sunette Viljoen still hasn't got an answer from Fikile Mbalula
— Wesley Botton (@wesbotton) November 8, 2016
We're chatting live to our social media expert, Verlie Oosthuizen, about the 'twar' between @fikilembalula & @Sunette_Viljoen. @ECRBreakfast
— Keri Miller (@kerimiller) November 8, 2016
After the latest show of 'class' from honorable minister Fikile Mbalula, this article still rings true: https://t.co/x3wVTumqE8 pic.twitter.com/z7MJR4l4Gj
— Ben Karpinski (@followthebounce) November 7, 2016
