International Relations Minister Maite Nkoane-Mashabane's alleged comment that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is a "crazy old man" should not be taken seriously, her deputy, Ebrahim Ebrahim, said.
"A lot of people say things about leaders, sometimes light-heartedly; this is not something to worry about, there are more fundamental issues to worry about," Ebrahim told journalists in Pretoria, after bilateral talks with British Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham.
The comments, contained in documents leaked to whistle-blower website WikiLeaks, would not affect the good relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe or mediation talks, he said.
Ebrahim, who flew in from the UK yesterday afternoon, has not yet discussed the matter with Nkoane-Mashabane.
The US cables released by WikiLeaks contain unflattering remarks made about many world leaders.
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