Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has terminated the contract of his controversial chief of staff, Roman Cabanac. The decision comes after widespread public criticism over Cabanac’s appointment due to his history of racist comments.
Cabanac himself announced the termination on Thursday via social media, noting with irony that he received the notice on his birthday. “I received a letter that terminates my tenure as chief of staff to the minister of agriculture. I received it yesterday, which was my birthday, so fantastic timing,” Cabanac stated in his post.
He indicated that he may challenge the decision, adding: “I believe there are a few flaws with the termination letter, so I will be looking at options going forward, and I’ll keep you updated.”
The appointment had sparked significant public backlash following revelations about Cabanac’s past statements, including tweets claiming black people are not liberals and questioning the historical facts of the Sharpeville Massacre – a pivotal event in South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle.
According to previous news reports, Steenhuisen initially defended Cabanac’s qualifications for the role but later reversed course, acknowledging that the appointment had been a mistake. The minister reportedly asked Cabanac to step down, citing the distraction the controversy was causing to the ministry’s work.
Previously, in addressing the matter, Steenhuisen has accepted full responsibility for the hiring decision that led to the controversy.
