Kenny Kunene questions Derek Hanekom's patriotism after tackling Zuma

Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom‚ who tabled a motion at the national executive committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC) meeting at the weekend asking President Jacob Zuma to step aside‚ on Monday had to defend his South African-ness.

Sushi king tweeted the minister‚ stating "The rumour that @Derek_Hanekom has two passports SA n German is worrying. If true then he's unPatriotic n can't hold public office..."

He did not elaborate on the source of the rumour.

Hanekom‚ still in the ANC meeting which got extended to Monday‚ responded politely - even trying to pre-empt any possible confusion involving countries starting with a "G" when he was an anti-apartheid activist in exile.

I still have a Ghanaian passport that was issued to me in Harare in 1988. I think it has expired. No German passport https://t.co/e9TFa0Gtk4

— Derek Hanekom (@Derek_Hanekom) 28 November 2016

The timing of the "unpatriotic" attack was questioned and condemned by social media users‚ who slammed the controversial Sushi King club owner.

"@Derek_Hanekom To think that you have to defend yourself against convicted criminals! @Kenny_T_Kunene‚" Mbathane Matshaya ‏@Sir_Bu commented.

"Is this issue now coming up because the minister is speaking up against JZ?‚" Philemon manganye ‏@Pmanganyi asked.

GibraltarZA ‏@GibraltarZA wanted to know: "Let's just say all accusations against Derek are true‚ why are they only being aired now?"

In a reference to the health and public works ministers‚ who are believed to have joined Hanekom in supporting the motion against Zuma‚ John Seema ‏@jhnseema asked: "@Derek_Hanekom @Kenny_T_Kunene I wonder if Thulas (Nxesi) & Aaron (Motsoaledi) have American passports"?

Messages of support for Hanekom came from Letshela Mohlamme ‏@paulmatena who tweeted "@Derek_Hanekom a true leader standup against nonsense‚ stay strong and fight the corruption that is trying to take SA" and Joe Malungane ‏@nsukuj‚ who shared "@Derek_Hanekom don't worry about kenny kunene he just want to destruct you".

Smanga W Khalishwayo ‏@smanga_w commented "@Derek_Hanekom When people have a collapse of principles they tend to play dirty games n mud slinging‚ Derek has served this country" while Fire-Starter ‏@RyanPaulJames89 shared "@Derek_Hanekom Yo yo yo yo yo‚ that didn't take long for them to turn on you hey Derek!!! Good luck Comrade!!!".