/ 23 July 2014

Fikile Mbalula – minister of selfies

Fikile Mbalula selfie.
Fikile Mbalula selfie.

As some South African politicians struggle with the concept of social media and its ubiquitous Twitter hashtags and photo updates on Facebook and Instagram, Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula has perfected the art of the selfie. 

Taking to Twitter and Instagram, Mbalula makes it known that he’s living his best life: wearing fitted caps and gold chains while jet-setting and rubbing shoulders with celebrities. If this isn’t “pimping” (in the musical rap sense, of course), then I don’t know what is. 

But fret not: this is nothing new for the Mbalula. I mean, he was the one who invited  American stars Vivica A Fox, Brandy, Regina Bell and others to the South African Sports awards 2011. And wanting to have famous Americans not known for their athletic abilities at an event to celebrate sportspeople didn’t end then for the minister. 

Last year he said:“We’ll celebrate our sports at the Sports Awards. And you love Beyoncé … We’ll bring her for you.” But he later commented that her R65-million fee was too much. And rightly so. 

So one can hate on the sports minister. But Mbalula’s social media game is on point (and fabulous).  

Here are some of our favourites from his list of selfies and photos. 

1. Selfie with media personality Minnie Dlamini while getting photo-bombed by former arts and culture minister Paul Mashatile.

2. Minister on the job. “Peace thru sport [sic].”

3. Minister off the job.

4. #TurnUp

5. Swagging

6. More swagging

7. Pouting before seeing soccer star Benni McCarthy.

8. Saluting before seeing Benni McCarthy

9. Favela selfie in Brazil