‘I’m not a soldier’: Angie Motshekga on minister ‘experience’
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga has a message to her critics – and clapback at her ‘lack of experience’…
Angie Motshekga has left South Africans amused at her response to criticism of her experience in her new role as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.
The 69-year-old was sworn into the seventh administrative cabinet on Wednesday, 3 July.
Prior to her new position, Motskhekga was the Minister of Basic Education for the last 15 years.
ANGIE MOTSHEKGA RESPONDS TO CRITICISM
Speaking to the SABC, Angie Motshekga relayed a message to her detractors. She said, “I’ve heard all the criticism. I don’t respond to it; I’m not fazed.”
Motshekga acknowledged that she was unfamiliar with the Ministry of Defence. She continued: “It would be dishonest of me to say I know what I’m going to do”.
She added, “I’m not a soldier; I’m not going to fight. I’m the head of policy, so I work with a team of experts. Even in [Basic] Education, I was not teaching.”
On social media – which has seen countless memes about Angie Motshekga’s new ministerial position – users were less than impressed by her response.
@Ori_RSA posted: “Angie Motshekga looks so clueless about her portfolio.”
@FreddieNovaa added: “She looks like she still can’t believe it herself.”
Angie Motshekga looks so clueless about her portfolio😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/IWZQQGM4xf
— ツ O R I (@Ori_RSA) July 3, 2024
ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES
Speaking to eNCA, Angie Motshekga revealed that she would first consult with the president and her predecessor, Thandi Modise, for an official handover.
On the challenges of limited resources and funding, she said: “There are no problems which are unsurmountable. We will have to do what we have to do with the resources that are there.
“The Minister of Finance [Enoch Godongwana] just told me that they have approved a decent sum of money to recapitalise the army. The government has started a process to address some of the problems that have been raised”.
Motshekga promised to give a detailed report back “in a month.”
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DOES THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE HAVE?
According to her official biography, Angie Motshekga has a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in education from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits).
Before her venture into government, Motshekga was a teacher at Orlando High School and a lecturer at the Soweto College of Education and Wits University.
