The day we fight, President Zuma will fire us
Sharing a public stage for the first time since news of a turf war between them broke in the media two weeks ago, Mthethwa and Mbalula told the National Press Club yesterday that their differences had been exaggerated.
The Sunday Times recently reported that Mthethwa and national police commissioner Bheki Cele had blocked Mbalula from speaking at the press club, saying that the minister should have been invited instead.
Though not denying that they do not see eye to eye on a number of issues, Mthethwa and Mbalula yesterday insisted that their differences were not insurmountable.
"There can't be a turf war between me and the deputy minister because both of us know our duties and tasks . we have been given a clear mandate," Mthethwa said.
Mbalula blamed the reports of their conflict on "ears of destruction" that were "spreading wrong information".
But he conceded to journalists that he was "not in the business of exchanging love letters" with the minister.
"We grew up together in the politics of the ANC and we know that we don't nurse each other's egos. We are not here to make each other favours. We are on course with regard to our tasks. The day we fight, President [Jacob] Zuma will fire us," Mbalula said.
He said deputy ministers were not "tokens" and were expected to be active in the running of their department. His work, he said, complemented that of Mthethwa.
Mthethwa said the publicity over their differences did not "help" the public or the police in their fight against crime.
The two were at the press club to talk about the ministry's plans to reduce crime during the festive season and in the run-up to next year's soccer World Cup.
Mbalula used the meeting to clarify his recent controversial remark that the "innocent will die" in the police's battle with violent criminals.
He said his remark was "a reality" and did not mean that the government was insensitive to the feelings of families that had lost loved ones due to police action.
"We do care. It's not like we're cold-blooded," Mbalula said.
"We sympathise with people who are in that kind of situation. in the crossfire between criminals and police, innocent people die, police also die. We live in South Africa - and that's the point."
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