At the time, Simelane-Zulu said the gathering was a “surprise”, and said she regretted that there was some flouting of Covid-19 regulations. However, she said health protocols were mostly followed, adding that she even made a comment to this effect as she arrived.
While Zikalala on Saturday emphasised that all health Covid-19 protocols were clear and adherence was not optional he acknowledged "circumstances that may have landed the MEC in this situation may have been beyond her control".
However, he said the public still has an expectation that leaders should lead them ethically.
"That is the burden we carry as public office bearers. This does not by any stretch of imagination imply that public office bearers and politicians are not infallible.
"The MEC has shown a high level of contrition and she did not go out of her way to violate Covid-19, which is a mitigation to the sanction to be detailed shortly," Zikalala added.