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Lamola slams Mashaba over deleted post on Samora Machel

Published

International relations minister Ronald Lamola said in a tweet that comments by ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba on the Machel commemoration were "deeply disturbing". Mashaba posted the remarks on a video of Machel's daughter, then deleted them.

Lamola attended the 40th anniversary commemoration of Machel's death at the Samora Machel Memorial in Mbuzini on Monday. Machel, a former Mozambican president, died in a plane crash in 1986. Mozambican President Daniel Chapo and Machel's widow, Graça Machel, also attended.

Mashaba posted his remarks in reply to a video of Machel's daughter, Josina Machel. She said her father was a hero who lost his last breath on South African soil. Mashaba wrote that Africa's sense of entitlement to South Africa is unbelievable. He also wrote that Machel was president of Mozambique, not South Africa.

Lamola said the comments reveal the type of politics that Mashaba and his party advance. He also said neighbouring front-line states such as Mozambique paid the ultimate price for South Africa's freedom.

Key facts

Who
Ronald Lamola (International relations and co-operation minister); Herman Mashaba (ActionSA leader); Josina Machel (daughter of Samora Machel, featured in video); Daniel Chapo (Mozambican President, attended commemoration)
What
Lamola said in a tweet that Mashaba's comments were "deeply disturbing" and revealed the politics Mashaba and his party advance, after Mashaba posted (and later deleted) remarks on a video of Machel's daughter Josina Machel about the 40th anniversary of Machel's death. Lamola had attended the commemoration at the Samora Machel Memorial in Mbuzini on Monday.
When
21 October 2026
Where
Mbuzini, Mpumalanga, Mozambique
Status
Reported

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