Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has escalated the situation regarding his chief of staff, Roman Cabanac, by referring the matter to the department’s human resources officials following Cabanac’s refusal to step down, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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This comes just weeks after Cabanac assumed the position, leading to speculation and media reports about a potential ‘golden handshake,’ which Cabanac vehemently denied, calling the claims ‘BS on stilts.’
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Cabanac expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the department in the past three weeks, accusing them of leaking stories rather than initiating the necessary HR processes. He emphasised his right to a fair and transparent process, stating, ‘HR is meant to be doing that.’
Since Steenhuisen currently lacks a ministry spokesperson, DA spokesperson Charity McCord addressed the situation, confirming that the minister had referred the matter to HR for processing the termination, although she refrained from disclosing the specific reasons for seeking Cabanac’s dismissal.
Initially, Steenhuisen defended Cabanac’s appointment, highlighting his qualifications, including an LLB degree and extensive experience as a legal consultant. However, following internal pressure and criticism over Cabanac’s past pro-Kremlin statements and derogatory remarks about NGOs, Steenhuisen requested that Cabanac resign.
At a recent Press Club event, Steenhuisen acknowledged that mistakes happen and emphasised the importance of addressing issues when they arise, as per Daily Maverick.
He remarked on the distraction Cabanac’s situation posed to the ministry’s work and indicated that a conversation about Cabanac’s future was ongoing.
Cabanac’s troubles began to mount after he admitted to making ‘insensitive’ comments on social media, including minimising the Sharpeville Massacre’s impact and making derogatory remarks about the Xhosa community. In a recorded discussion, he also expressed controversial opinions about music and the death penalty for corruption, citing practices used by the Chinese Communist Party.
Despite his apology on social media, where he attempted to distance himself from his earlier remarks, Cabanac maintained that he had built his brand as a provocative critic of the previous government. He stated that he recognised the need for a more constructive approach moving forward and expressed a desire to contribute positively to South Africa’s governance.
Weeks after his controversial comments and subsequent apology, Cabanac remains in his role as chief of staff and continues to refer to himself as ‘Chief Of Staff – Minister Of Agriculture’ on social media, highlighting his ongoing position despite the surrounding turmoil.
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Picture: Roman Cabanac / Instagram
