We need to talk about Comrade Gert

On Wednesday, the department of government communications (GCIS) circulated a picture of President Cyril Ramaphosa posing with ministers and members of the Nelson Mandela Foundation wearing T-shirts with Madiba’s face on them to signal the beginning of the Nelson Mandela Centenary celebrations.

The picture has been widely shared, and even made it on to the front page of some newspapers, such as The Citizen.

People on social media didn’t take long to notice that something seems to be the matter with the man to the right of Minerals Minister Gwede Mantashe.

He is none other than Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation Gert Oosthuizen. He is the longest serving deputy minister in South Africa, and if the photo is anything to go by, perhaps he could do with some time off.

An accurate diagnosis has been hard to come by. Theories so far have ranged from “constipated” to “holding it in” to one Twitter user suggesting that he has just an “extra hot curry from the Guptas”. It’s possible that he just forgot to bring sunscreen to the outdoor shoot.

We are looking for further information regarding the health of the deputy minister. Any information would be appreciated. Please send to online@citizen.co.za. We just want to know if he’s OK.

(In Pic – President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President David Mabuza and Nelson Mandela Foundation Chairman Professor Njabulo Ndebele with Cabinet Members)
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President David Mabuza leading Cabinet Members and Deputy Ministers during a Photo Shoot ahead of The Nelson Mandela Centenary celebrations outside Tuynhuys in Cape Town, 30 May 2018. Jairus Mmutle/GCIS

Other ministers in the picture did not escape social media scrutiny, with some commenting on Deputy President David ‘DD’ Mabuza’s penchant for tucking in his T-Shirt and journalist Sipho Hlongwane describing the gentleman to the right of Oosthuizen as Comrade Bare Minimum in Group Activities.

But it was Comrade Oosthuizen, or ‘the red comrade’, as he is known to some, who stole the show with his incredible impersonation of a beetroot.

This gentleman next to Mr Mantashe.

Dafuq is going on? pic.twitter.com/A2lXgpHCYZ

— Khaya Sithole (@CoruscaKhaya) May 30, 2018

When u had extra extra hot curry from the Guptaz😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Mz5chbcm33

— Dollar Bill (@Malidollar1) May 30, 2018

That red comrade ke mang? 🤔

— Future Billionaire (@Exotee) May 30, 2018

https://twitter.com/comradesipho/status/1001777667128152065

I’m comrade whatever the hell is happening here. Constipation? Confusion? Planning a murder? Who knows. pic.twitter.com/8QnbM3srpN

— Lou Warren 🏳️‍🌈🇿🇦 (@Persephonified) May 30, 2018

https://twitter.com/comradesipho/status/1001785061199548416