Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe on Sunday represented President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Freedom Day national celebrations in Ermelo, Mpumalanga.
Image: Jacques Naude/Independent Newspapers
Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, on Sunday represented President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Freedom Day national celebrations in Ermelo, where he spoke out against racism and segregation in South Africa.
Government hosted the 2025 national Freedom Day celebrations at the AJ Swanepoel Stadium in Ermelo, Msukwaligwa Local Municipality within the Gert Sibande District Municipality in Mpumalanga, where Mantashe delivered the keynote address.
“The fact that we have a history of reconciliation over revenge, that is what we are celebrating. It is our choice for reconciliation over revenge, healing over hatred; you heal, you do not continue hating, peace over conflict. Right-wing fringes regard this gesture as cowardice rather than a noble one. That is why you find some of the people talking of an Orania, a piece of land in the Northern Cape.
“They want to create it as some land that is independent. Actually, If I would be president for more than three hours, I would declare that people must go and build in Orania. Black people must go and build there and we mix them. They (would) appreciate that hatred can never survive peace. It is peace that builds a nation,” said Mantashe.
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“But I can’t. If I could, I would say go and build in Orania. Others go over to America and ask for their makhulu baas (President Donald) Trump to punish us, but they stay here. Now they are told to go there and be refugees, they are refusing. They must go. We are a free country, we are a sovereign country and we are not a province of the United States. That sovereignty will be defended.”
Earlier, addressing the same gathering, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie saluted Ramaphosa for appointing him into Cabinet in the Government of National Unity.
Addressing thousands of community members and dignitaries in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, McKenzie said 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 (we all love you), 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.
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie.
Image: Facebook
“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," he said.
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