‘Malema is almost big as well,’ says Ramaphosa after paying tribute to Sho Madjozi

Members of parliament shared a light moment during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s reply to the state of the nation address debate in parliament today. In his reply, Ramaphosa threw shade at Economic Freedom Fighters Julius Malema.

The president paid tribute to South Africa’s national sports teams for representing the country on a global scale. He further applauded Tsonga musician Maya Christinah Xichavo Wegerif, popularly known by her stage name, Sho Madjozi.

He said: “I also want to applaud Sho Madjozi for winning the BET award. In Madjozi’s words, he [sic] says: ‘My story is a testament that you can come from any village, where she comes from and any forgotten part of the world and still be a superstar that she is. For girls that come from where I come from, [which is Limpopo – Honourable Malema’s province]. I just want to say you don’t need to change who you are, you can still be big.'”

He was corrected for mistakenly saying Sho Madjozi was a “he”, before shading Malema, who was left in stitches.

“Like Honourable Malema is almost as big as well. Honourable Malema, you remember I said I will sing a song for you if you became big and delivered the state of the nation. I am still practising.”

Ramaphosa’s shade amused MPs, though they also insisted on him applauding Caster Semenya too.

“I spoke about Caster last time. Yes, Caster Semenya, who comes from the province where none other than Honourable Shivambu and Honourable Malema come from,” he said.

Watch the video below from SABC News:

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