There is no possibility whatsoever that Christmas will be cancelled as a holiday, said African National Congress spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama on Sunday.
He was responding to a story in the Sunday Times saying all public holidays in South Africa are up for review and some might be scrapped.
”The ANC takes serious exception. Such a report is aimed at creating confusion and mistrust of the ANC as a ruling party,” Ngonyama said.
According to the newspapers, a government task team — initiated by former home affairs minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi — is compiling a report on the selection and distribution of public holidays.
Ngonyama said the report is unfinished.
”It should be first be presented to the minister and the Cabinet,” he said.
Ngonyama said the officials concerned, who had leaked the story to the press, should do their work, hand over the report and not comment to the newspapers.
”This is supposed to be the jurisdiction of the minister, not of an official.” — Sapa