Radebe apologises for sex text scandal

Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe has apologised for his involvement in a sex text scandal.

Radebe was in Port Elizabeth where he addressed ANC officials from the Sarah Baartman region about policy discussion documents‚ on Sunday.

• Mboweni warns about 'dirty political game' as Twitter pokes fun with #nudesforjeffFormer Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni has warned that politics is "going to be dirty" in South Africa as the race intensifies to replace President Jacob Zuma.

Social media was abuzz after the Sunday Times reported that Radebe was in hot water for raunchy text and e-mail communication in which he asked for nude pictures of a 29-year-old Union Buildings staffer‚ Siyasanga Mbambani.

• Cabinet minister embroiled in text sex scandalMinister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe is embroiled in a text sex scandal that threatens to torpedo his ambitions for higher office. 

While Radebe‚ a 64-year-old minister‚ dodged questions about his messages‚ he referred all queries to his spokesman. His spokesman‚ Phillip Musekwa‚ said: “The minister deeply regrets that the exchanges took place in the first place.

• OPINION: What is it with powerful men and sexual temptationWhat is it with powerful men and sexual temptation, asks Nadine Dreyer

“He is worried about the welfare of the woman who is implicated. She will take the social media pressure of what is now out there.” Musekwa said Radebe would like to apologise to the country‚ Mbambani‚ her family and his own wife and children. He said Radebe admitted the incident and said it was poor judgment on his part.