#CyrilFridays: Mzansi can’t get enough of its president
South Africans are crushing on their President. Cyril Ramaphosa is in the limelight and the good books — mostly for his bravery while leading millions out a dreadful and dark time. Hence, the birth of the #CyrilFridays hashtag.
On Thursday 23 April, Ramaphosa took to the podium to address the nation for the second time in one week. He announced that hard lockdown would be phased out from Friday 1 May, mentioning five levels we would have to navigate through.
Since the declaration of the global pandemic as a national disaster, South Africans have praised Ramaphosa for his courage and strength while navigating an unprecedented situation.
#CyrilFridays become a thing
If you’ve been on Twitter on Friday 24 April, you’ll know that #CyrilFridays is at number one on the trends list and has been for a good couple of hours.
The hashtag basically surfaced from thousands of South Africans paying tribute to Ramaphosa for his leadership.
Twitter can sometimes be filled with negativity where some users only point fingers, however, Ramaphosa has managed to unite the country, even on the platform.
Here’s what some of the Twitter users had to say following Ramaphosa’s speech on Thursday evening:
“You are tired and stressed my President but you’re able to give us hope and leadership. We appreciate you, sir!”
Twitter user
“Being a leader takes courage, discipline, and determination. While a great leader can bring great success, it also comes at the cost of being judged and overwhelmed. Cyril Ramaphosa May God bless you and your team. Thank you, Mr President.”
Twitter user
One user even added Health Minister Zweli Mkhize into the mix, praising them both for their poise during a difficult time.
“Cyril Ramaphosa and Zweli Mkhize were made for such a time as this. We really appreciate the hard work that they do to ensure that South Africans are safe during these trying times. We pray for more wisdom from God to both of you.”
Twitter user
Author Khaya Dlanga said:
“Mr President, you have risen to the challenge during a difficult time. You have navigated a complex situation while uniting your people. There is still a long road to go and it’s not going to get any easier. Because you have our backs, we have yours.”
Dubbed a hero
Cyril Ramaphosa has been dubbed a hero by many South Africans. Hell, some Twitter users even posted pictures of him in a superhero suit.
Do we think all the praise is too much? Not at all.
There are around 59 million people in South Africa, people that one man has to lift up and help to keep positive. Over the last few weeks, Ramaphosa has had to strategise, hold countless meetings and make some difficult decisions.
Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) this week praised South Africa’s efforts in slowing down the spread of the disease. Executive Director of the (WHO) Health Emergencies Programme Michael Ryan, said South Africa’s response to the pandemic has been among the best in the world.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday 23 April as he provided an update on the global response to the virus, Ryan said that South Africa’s approach to stemming its spread was “incredible”.
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