She is not the brightest spark in President Jacob Zuma's cabinet but we have always regarded her as rational. That is, until this week, when Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane sat down for an interview with al-Jazeera television. She completely shattered our image of her and failed in her duty to represent our country fairly to an international audience.Our disappointment was caused not only by her failure to answer key questions but also by her evident lack of preparation for the interview.It showed the world that South Africa is at the same level today as in 1994, when we first strode onto the international stage as a democracy.At a time when we need hope, and an answer to our prayers that we survive a credit-rating downgrade, Nkoana-Mashabane has added to the pain of our already battered souls.She failed to tell the world that, although we are facing economic and political challenges, South Africa is getting stronger and its people are resilient.Instead, she rambled on about things that had nothing to do with the questions posed by the interviewer.Nkoana-Mashabane's performance should force South Africans to ask themselves difficult questions about the men and women in the cabinet.When a foreign affairs minister - whose job is to promote and protect our image abroad - behaves in such a way we should all be worried.What kind of a message does she project behind closed doors, away from the cameras?Those who argue that we are being too harsh on the minister should watch the interview and judge for themselves.Nkoana-Mashabane must realise that she represents our country and that her statements are viewed by the international community as a reflection of who we are as a nation. W e deserve better representation ...