Cabinet minister revelry as Mbalula gets Blade Nzimande to join Twitter
Image: Twitpic posted by Bonginkosi Nzimande @DrBladeNzimande
Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande roped in two university vice-chancellors to post his first tweet – on the encouragement of outspoken Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula.
Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande roped in two university vice-chancellors to post his first tweet – on the encouragement of outspoken Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula.
Nzimande (57) credited Mbalula for making him turn the corner, commenting: “Mbaks you'll get me here, uzoyithola kanjani uma ungekho kwi Twitter @MBalulaFikile”.
Mbalula replied: “Welcome - soze wayithola outside here. This is a platform to connect with our people”.
He also alerted his sizeable Twitter following of 413,000 followers, tweeting: “CONFIRMED the Twittter Account of Higher Education and Training Minister is 100% authentic - Follow him on @DrBladeNzimande Not Parody”.
There are at least three other, defunct, accounts in Nzimande’s name on Twitter.
The new one uses his real name - Bonginkosi Nzimande – as well as his better known nickname of Blade.
The politician, who has been Minister for Higher Education and Training since 2009, posted his first official tweet with a photo of himself holding a smartphone flanked by Adam Habib, Vice Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand, and Ihron Rensburg, Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg.
Nzimande was meeting university vice-chancellors in Johannesburg on Wednesday to discuss the student funding crisis following the #FeesMustFall protests.
Nzimande’s tag line is: “Philosophers have interpreted the world in various ways, the point however is to change it - Marx and Engels #BeTheChange #Education #AWEHness”.
Within the first three hours, the Bonginkosi Nzimande @DrBladeNzimande account had over 1,000 followers.