Ramaphosa proud of Gayton McKenzie’s work since being appointed Minister
President Cyril Ramaphosa said Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie has hit the ground running.
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture (L), Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga (C) and President Cyril Ramaphosa at a homecoming ceremony in Pretoria on 27 September 2024, held in honour of freedom fighters whose remains have been repatriated. Picture: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa said he’s proud of the work done by Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie since his appointment as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture.
It’s been nearly three months since McKenzie was appointed to Cabinet, following the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Ramaphosa applauded McKenzie during a homecoming ceremony held in Pretoria on Friday, in honour of freedom fighters whose remains have been repatriated.
ALSO READ: Ramaphosa praises GNU for finalising repatriation of freedom fighters who died in exile
Ramaphosa said McKenzie has hit the ground running, expressing pride in his accomplishments in government.
“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.’ He said, ‘thank you very much, Mr President’ and then I put the phone down. Then he called me back and said, ‘Mr President, did I hear you correctly?’”
McKenzie has also thanked Ramaphosa for trusting him to occupy the Sport, Arts and Culture Ministry.
“Those that think I can betray you, you have hired me in spite of people saying ‘you can never make McKenzie a minister.’ Today you can call me Bandit but you must say honourable.”
McKenzie said he’s confident the GNU will make it to 2029 and has further dismissed suggestions that it is failing.
HEROES' ACRE
Ramaphosa has instructed McKenzie to draft a plan on how government can build a Heroes’ Acre.
The acre would be in honour of struggle stalwarts who lost their lives fighting for South Africa’s liberation during the apartheid era.
Speaking at the homecoming ceremony, Ramaphosa said government would continue to honour the country’s heroes.
“As I travel to other countries, to Zimbabwe, as I travel to Namibia, they have created incredible acres where the heroes of their struggle are buried. Those memorial sites have in many ways become sacred places of the nation.”
Ramaphosa said McKenzie 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.”