"NOT THE SHARPEST KNIFE IN THE KNIFE-THING"

South Africa's  foreign minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has done it again - embarrassing the country.  She did so on al-Jazeera, and now by leveling unfounded complaints at the US for its recent terror alert.  Her actions are demonstrative of a degree of stupidity that has a shelf life in perpetuity.  

Noake-Masabane was oblivious to the fact that the US alert was directed at US citizens living in South Africa.  It was not for her, or the security cluster, to question the source for the terror alert. There are some 8 million US citizens living abroad, and  the protection of its citizens is of the utmost priority.  The fact that the minister criticised the US for its "disingenuous" actions will not deter the US from issuing warnings in the future.  If the minister, or the security cluster felt slighted by the alert so be it!  The alert had nothing to do with the government's inability( as it suggested) to protect its citizens.   Smacks of deep seated inferiority complex issues wouldn't you say?

One explanation advanced for the minister initiating a diplomatic protest is her animus towards the US.  One thing is, however, patently obvious:  she lacks the temperament and intellect for the important portfolio.  She may be gifted in other areas.  To this end, Luthuli House should deploy her to one of the many cabinet positions where she can be seen but not heard, and can do no further harm.