Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has saluted President Cyril Ramaphosa for appointing him into Cabinet in the Government of National Unity.
Addressing thousands of community members and dignitaries in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, at the national Freedom Day commemorations, McKenzie told the gathering that some political parties had mocked him because of his past.
“Some people said to me, McKenzie, we saw you singing Ramaphosa re o rata kaofela, how can you sing that? I said wena, your party called me a bandit, Ramaphosa looked past my past. He said I am a man of God, let me give him the chance to lead the people,” said McKenzie.
“Now you want me to fight the man that looked past my mistakes and said I see you as fit and proper to be in my government. I am unapologetic, I am supporting the president of this country, and if you have anything bad to say about him, there are people you can go and talk to. I am respecting the president.”
McKenzie said he had “very bad” news for the haters of the GNU.
“The GNU is still standing strong. Siyaqhubeka (we are moving forward). We are together, we are together! There is no couple here that does not fight.
“So we do fight in the GNU, but because we have a leadership, a president who understands that he is not just a president in the GNU of the ANC; he is the president of all the other parties in the GNU. Whether we like it or not, President Ramaphosa is our leader in the GNU, and we should behave like that,” said McKenzie.
Meanwhile, Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe on Sunday represented Ramaphosa at the Freedom Day national celebrations in Ermelo.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya said the president is being treated for flu.
“President Ramaphosa is unable to officiate this engagement as he is being treated for flu and has been advised to rest for this to clear,” he said.
“The president wishes the nation well on this Freedom Day which marks the conclusion of the observance of 30 years of freedom and democracy in South Africa.”
