Farida Joyce
Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s Wafcon celebrations were stopped in their tracks on Saturday as media personality Bonang Matheba hit out at him with some scathing criticism.
Following South Africa’s 2-1 victory over Morocco on Saturday at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), Mthethwa tweeted: “It feels good for South African football to, once again, reach the pinnacle of continental football, for the first time since 1996. Indeed, it is coming home to Mzansi!”
But before he could even raise a beer to salute the new queens of Africa, Methaba pounced on him, accusing him and his government of contributing “nothing” to the victory.
“Because NOTHING has been done since 1996! Imagine the nerve!! Swooping in to celebrate a VICTORY you didn’t cultivate!! Find a new job!” she tweeted.
Many social media users jumped to the minister’s aid, given that most people in South Africa were celebrating Banyana Banyana’s victory, whether they helped them win or not.
However, there were many others who agreed with her.
Mthethwa has been gunning for the minister of sport, arts, and culture for some time, and has previously criticised him over the failure to pay Banyana Banyana the same wages as their male counterparts.
When Banyana Banyana cruised to victory against Zambia earlier this week to go to the finals, Mthethwa congratulated the women’s squad. Without hesitation, Matheba urged Mthethwa to pay the women.
She tweeted, “Please. These girls deserve MONEY! Open. Your. Wallet. Akere you want an orchestra?!!”.
The first time Mthethwa demanded the minister’s resignation, however, was when plans emerged to erect a controversial R22 million flag in Freedom Park.
