Own Correspondent|President Cyril Ramaphosa, on Friday 24 April, responded to many South Africans poking fun at him for putting his mask on “incorrectly” during his nationwide address. 

During a media briefing in Gauteng on Friday, he started off by saying: “For all those that were laughing at me yesterday”. 

The mask challenge is born

On Thursday evening, South Africa’s beloved Ramaphosa took to the podium to address the nation on the easing of the nationwide lockdown come 1 May. 

At the end of his speech, he picked up a mask and tried to put it on to signify solidarity and to encourage South Africans to wear one when they leave the house. 

However, his demonstration didn’t go so well. In front of millions of South Africans and people all around the world, he made a mask blunder. He literally stumbled while putting it on and basically had a little fight with it for a good couple of seconds. 

Instead of getting the mask to cover his nose and mouth, he got it over his eyes and even struggled to hook the straps over his ears. It was a cringe-worthy moment — one that had most people watching in absolute stitches. 

Enter Mzansi’s meme-makers. 

Social media runs with mask memes

Within two minutes of Ramaphosa struggling to put on his mask, there were hundreds of memes floating around on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and even Instagram. 

Ramaphosa with a mask over his eyes on national television was too irresistible to not poke fun at it. 

South Africans poking fun, however, did not seem to be done in an unkind or malicious way — thank goodness — most South Africans poked fun in the nicest and kindest way they possibly could. 

Ramaphosa on Friday finally responded to all the mask memes — something everyone was waiting for. People wanted to know if he would address it or bypass it completely. 

Watch: Ramaphosa responds  

Good news Mzansi — at least they have a fun president — one that can take a joke and laugh at himself even if it’s to do with a mask.  

Ramaphosa said he will be starting a channel of his own, teaching people how to wear masks. What a good idea!

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