Virtually all Cabinet ministers and their deputies turned out for Wednesday’s fortnightly Cabinet meeting at Tuynhuys sporting Springbok rugby supporter’s jerseys, jackets or a cap at the very least.
In a rare opportunity for the media, journalists and photographers were allowed briefly into the strictly off-limits Cabinet meeting room to record the event, as well as to witness Statistician General Pali Lehohla present the results of the Community Survey 2007 to President Thabo Mbeki.
One senior minister, rather conspicuous in a traditional robe among the green and gold attire around him, was heard to remark: ”My underwear is green.”
Several other ministers and deputies opted for the whole hog — jersey, cap and scarf, and in some instances, even a jacket.
SA Rugby flags lined the wall and the mood was jubilant.
Government communications head Themba Maseko said this was the ministers’ way of showing appreciation to the Springbok team for bringing the Webb Ellis trophy to South Africa.
”And we think the spirit in the country is very positive and Cabinet also wanted to express its full support and congratulations to the Springboks.”
Maseko said he had never seen such a positive spirit in the Cabinet.
”Everybody is really excited by the fact that we won the World Cup, we were competing among the best and we succeeded and this has brought unity that is unprecedented since 1994 and 1995, when we [also] won the World Cup.
”It’s an opportunity for South Africans to be united around the Springboks, but also to begin to share a spirit of positivity among South Africans.
”We need to start identifying all the positive things that make us South Africans, and this victory is demonstrating that in fact this is one positive thing that can unite us as a nation.”
Asked about one minister who famously claimed to support the All Blacks some time ago, Maseko said ”all ministers of this Cabinet are fully behind the Springboks”.
On coach Jake White’s future, he said Mbeki had expressed the view that he believed White should stay.
”But Cabinet’s view is that it’s a SA rugby matter, they should be able to deal with it.
”But obviously, in taking a decision on the matter they don’t have to take into account the views of the majority of South Africans, which in my view, is that Mr White should stay.”
Regarding transformation, Maseko said the debate would go ahead.
”But we think that in fact what is primary in the minds of most South Africans is to celebrate this victory and to see what measures can be put in place to make sure that on the one hand we produce teams that are winning teams. But at the same time, make sure that this team will find ways of making sure that they represent all South Africans.
”But the most important thing is that Jake White put together a winning team that is making all South Africans proud and that is what we think we should focus our attention on at this stage,” Maseko said. – Sapa