As the Government of National Unity marks a 100 days in office, Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie has pledged loyalty to President Cyril Ramaphosa for appointing him as a minister.
McKenzie who had unsuccessfully lobbied for the home affairs portfolio but ended up being allocated sports, arts and culture said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve in cabinet and made an undertaking to never criticise Ramaphosa.
McKenzie briefed the media at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg on Thursday alongside his deputy Peace Mabe of the ANC.
“Why do you want me to criticise the man that gave me a job. This is a good job. I will never criticise President Ramaphosa, never. Patriotic Alliance members are happy with the GNU and they want me to stay in it,” said McKenzie.
McKenzie who has been criticised for appearing to be too excited with the limelight said he will maintain a strong presence in the public even suggesting that his critics were jealous of him.
“I am a minister of sports, arts and culture so I will keep attending the events, it’s my job. I think the EFF is a bit jealous because they could have been in the GNU but their leader refused, maybe Floyd should come back because those people are too angry now,” he said throwing shade at the EFF.
McKenzie said he has already achieved a lot counting among others
- repatriation of the remains of struggle icons such as Duma Nokwe and others
- formalisation of motor spinning as a sport
- the setting up of a structure through which the government aims to protect the rights of artists against exploitation
- bailing the National School of Arts when it was about to close down
- initiating negotiations with Miltichoice to allow the SABC to broadcast the national rugby team’s matches
- McKenzie said McKenzie was a good man who was being wrongly criticised.
He urged the ANC not to remove Ramaphosa before he finished his term warning that could spell the end of GNU.
McKenzie also defended his controversial trip to the Paris Olympics saying he was not in a position to reduce the cost ( R 800 000).
He said he had underestimated the work of ministers and wrongly claimed they were overpaid.
“I used to think being a minister is easy and when I was campaigning I said ministers were overpaid, I take all that back and I thank President Ramaphosa for seeing some worth in me,” he said.