Cape Town — President Cyril Ramaphosa admitted he was proud of the work done by Gayton McKenzie, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader and Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture.
McKenzie was hired after his party, the PA, joined the Government of National Unity (GNU). Ramaphosa appointed McKenzie to his cabinet as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture. He has done exemplary work so far, prioritising school sports and aiming for inclusion for all South Africans.
During the repatriation ceremony of former freedom fighters who died in exile, Ramaphosa praised McKenzie for this work so far, expressing pride in his achievements, EWN reported,
“When I called Minister McKenzie as we were putting together the government, I said, ‘We don’t have time, we are rushing, and I just wanted to let you know I’d like to appoint you as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture’,” Ramaphosa said.
He added that McKenzie was shocked at his appointment and had to call Ramaphosa back after he heard the news.
Ramaphosa said he had instructed McKenzie to draft a plan on how the government could build a Heroes’ Acre, in honour of stalwarts who fought for liberation during Apartheid. He vowed to fulfil the task.
“So, Minister McKenzie has another task, and if you say he’s happy about it, you’d be lying because he’s very, very excited to take on this task. So, I’d like us to move forward to create a great memorial of the heroes who lie buried in South African soil,” Ramaphosa said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa reveals details of Gayton Mckenzie’s appointment to cabinet. @Alpha_Mero25 pic.twitter.com/p37Yv4XsXL
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) September 27, 2024
McKenzie was grateful to Ramaphosa for the support shown to him and praised him as the “glue of the GNU.” He said he could never betray Ramaohosa for giving him a position amidst all the detractors, Newzroom Afrika reported.
“The GNU is working, we are happy, President Ramaphosa is leading us, and the President that I’m calling now. I must tell you something when we criticised you, we went past the boundaries of respectable criticism,” McKenzie said.
“We at times became very personal with you. We called you names, we accused you of stuff, but you looked past what we all called you and you look at what is good for South Africa. You are a leader with leaders [sic]”.
“You have hired me despite people saying ‘you can never make McKenzie a minister’. Today you can call me bhantinti (jailbird) but you must say ‘honourable’,” he added.
He added that he was confident the GNU would make it to 2029 and has further dismissed suggestions that it is failing.
[WATCH] Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie tells President Cyril Ramaphosa he will never betray him in the government of national unity, because he gave him a ministerial post against detractors.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/NQRVjbmCIb
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) September 27, 2024
Picture: X/@SHUMBANKWALI
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
