Cape Town - Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has positioned himself as the man with a plan as he hopes to reignite growth in the economy, create 1 million jobs and improve the levels of investments.
However, it wasn't the minister's finance-savvy skills that had social media abuzz, but instead his shoes.
On Thursday, #NationalTitoDay started trending on Twitter when the finance minister made a public appearance with shoes that seem like a physical representation of the country's current economic crisis - stable and reliable but not necessarily pretty to look at.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalTitoDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NationalTitoDay pic.twitter.com/uFyQKOazhB
— Chief Erican (@EricanSA)
The minister's shoes had some debating that they weren't becoming for a finance minister, while others were defending the shoes, highlighting that unlike some who claim to be for the poor, the minister is not just talking the talk, but walking the walk.
Others were quick to also recommend places where Mboweni could find shoes that were still economical but also aesthetically pleasing.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalTitoDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NationalTitoDay pic.twitter.com/TpBbGbZzbA
— Thabiso Mngoma (@ThabisoMngoma1)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/tito_mboweni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tito_mboweni #NationalTitoDay pic.twitter.com/k5fE8IUQDn
— #UmhlabaWethu-OurLand (@Ons_Land_)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalTitoDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NationalTitoDay pic.twitter.com/Tv8yLfZ6fw
— Tiyani Nghonyama (@TiyaniTee)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/tito_mboweni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tito_mbowenisense of dress. Being rich/wealth isn't defined by the type of cloth, colour or leather you put on. I love your kicks Minister. #NationalTitoDay pic.twitter.com/p6uKL5emfb
— Breach Repairer (@Taffy_Mug)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalTitoDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NationalTitoDayleave Tito alone south Africa... At least he is not fake... Gucci my foot. 💥✨🚶😂😂 pic.twitter.com/jzZzrkZW2y
— #The_Fiend 👹 (@CNtiyiso)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/tito_mboweni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tito_mboweniis indeed saving and wants to keep the shoes, then I have a solution for him. He can go for shoe polish, and if that's difficult, he can go buy candles and try out Vaskerese. #Powerbreakfast #NationalTitoDay pic.twitter.com/lC7fpMrESr
— A Dog That Bites (@SkepeMatsebane)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/tito_mboweni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tito_mboweniis trying to plug us on a new shoe trend?🤔🤔🤔 #NationalTitoDay #powerbreakfast pic.twitter.com/tNB8r1Zdvl
— 🐝TALLGUYBEE🐝🌈 (@gift_bee)
Others then just used the opportunity to share memes:
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/tito_mboweni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tito_mboweniis indeed saving and wants to keep the shoes, then I have a solution for him. He can go for shoe polish, and if that's difficult, he can go buy candles and try out Vaskerese. #Powerbreakfast #NationalTitoDay pic.twitter.com/lC7fpMrESr
— A Dog That Bites (@SkepeMatsebane)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalTitoDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NationalTitoDay pic.twitter.com/MnhNUlYWuG
— TAU-MOOPONG (@williamrapule)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/amabhakaniya?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#amabhakaniya #NationalTitoDay pic.twitter.com/Ynp8hXJI02
— Sifiso Hlubi (@djhlubi)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalTitoDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NationalTitoDay pic.twitter.com/R9rYXJZEEN
— Miya🇿🇦 (@Tuwayz)