Mzansi Split Over President's Tweet Congratulating Sailor Amidst Country's Challenges

Kirsten Neuschäfer

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing criticism for his recent tweet congratulating Kirsten Neuschäfer, a South African sailor who became the first woman to win a solo round-the-world race. While many celebrated Neuschäfer's impressive accomplishment, others questioned the timing and priorities of the President's tweet given the ongoing challenges facing the country.

Congratulations to our world-class sailing star Kirsten Neuschäfer on winning the prestigious and demanding Golden Globe Race in which she spent nearly 235 days in an event that required competitors to sail without GPS and other technology. Kirsten was the only female entrant and… pic.twitter.com/zcGfjom0Qk

— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) April 30, 2023

Mzansi is currently grappling with a number of pressing issues, including load shedding, price hikes for food, and rising taxes. In response to Ramaphosa's tweet, some people expressed frustration that he appeared more concerned with celebrating Neuschäfer's victory than addressing these pressing concerns.

Critics also accused the President of prioritizing white Europeans over black South Africans. Some argued that Ramaphosa's enthusiastic congratulations for Neuschäfer contrasted with his perceived lack of action to address the needs of black South Africans. This sentiment was summed up by one comment on social media: "When it comes to white people, you go all out."

Despite the criticism, some South Africans were supportive of Neuschäfer's achievement and saw it as a source of inspiration for the country. One person commented, "I am proud of her. She deserves all celebrations." Others hoped that the government would take a cue from Neuschäfer's perseverance and determination, with one tweet reading, "Congratulations to her only if our government could borrow a chapter in her journey #rescue our sinking country."

Overall, Ramaphosa's tweet and the ensuing reactions have highlighted the deep-seated tensions and frustrations facing South Africans today. While Neuschäfer's victory is certainly a cause for celebration, many in the country feel that the government needs to prioritize the needs of its citizens, particularly those who are most vulnerable and marginalized.

In addition to the previous quote tweets, some Twitter users took a more sarcastic approach. One user wrote, "Sailing is in their genes. Hence they were able to move around the world colonizing countries without GPS. Now let's talk load shedding, food prices, and unemployment." This tweet highlights the frustration felt by many Mzansi citizens who believe that the government is prioritizing trivial matters over the pressing issues that they face every day. With the ongoing load shedding, rising food prices, and high unemployment rates, many feel that the president should be focusing on these issues rather than congratulating a sailor on Twitter.

Sailing is in their genes. Hence they were able to move around the world colonising countries without gps. Now let’s talk load shedding, food prices and unemployment. https://t.co/iNTVpicXFa

— Thabo Makwakwa (@ThaboMakwakwa) April 30, 2023

The controversy surrounding Ramaphosa's tweet is a reminder that leaders around the world are facing increased scrutiny and pressure from their citizens to address the real and pressing concerns facing their countries. As South Africa continues to grapple with these challenges, it remains to be seen how the government will respond and whether it will take concrete steps to improve the lives of its citizens.

Image source @CyrylRamaphosa twitter