Being deputy president of South Africa has its perks. About 500 000 of them at last count, but one of the most important, yet least tangible, is the ability to demand respect from those inhabitants of the gutter-press that dare to cross your path.

At least this seems to be what one of Jacob Zuma's spin doctors, Zanele Mngadi, believes. Hacks hanging around at the South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union conference in Kempton Park on Monday were told in no uncertain terms to not be "disrespectful".

And that if the reporters persisted (which is what they do for a living) Mngadi would "get the bodyguards to throw them out".

With acknowledgements to Krisjan Lemmer and the Mail and Guardian.