“Put some respect on his name” – Tito Mboweni makes bizarre Ramaphosa defence

South African social media users are all too familiar with Tito Mboweni’s antics on Twitter. The current finance minister has used the platform to declare war on journalists and heap praise on his Rwandan counterparts. But the politician was back at it again on Sunday, and he wants a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T put on the president’s name.

Tito Mboweni doesn’t like the term “Cyril”

Mboweni has been ranting about the casual tone certain media outlets have been using about Cyril Ramaphosa. He’s taken a particular dislike to how some publications – us included – use only his first name in headlines and articles.

According to Tito (or should that be Mr Mboweni?), there’s an element of disrespect when it comes to naming our president this way. Oh, and he couldn’t hide his love for Rwanda during the rant, either:

“This thing of referring to the President by his first name must STOP now. Cyril this Cyril that. Stop it. President Ramaphosa. Get it, media! In Kigali, we refer to President Kagame NOT him as Paul! Hayibo! Please, people!”

Tito Mboweni

What’s in a nickname?

He raises an interesting point, but one that certainly comes with its flaws. Cyril is a very distinct name, not shared by anyone in government or indeed Parliament. Ramaphosa is often referred to by his first name because it has a degree of prestige and uniqueness to it. In this context, anyway.

Tito wouldn’t be drawn on how he felt about Jacob Zuma’s multiple monikers. The former president goes by the terms of JZ (his initials), Msholozi (his family name) and even uBaba (a term made popular by the EFF) – yet the minister’s only grievance seems to be with Cyril Ramaphosa. As you’d expect, Twitter users didn’t agree with him.

He is the head of republic not our king, we elected him, we get to call him what we like.

I know he’s your boss but we are citizens not servants

— ConsuliZambane (@EmperorAxe) May 26, 2019