 |
| Picture: Gallo Images |
Suggestions that the EFF spokesperson ‘raped and murdered’ someone suddenly had a second wind on Friday on social media.
At the start of 2015, the media was first given the “lead” that EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi had possibly raped a woman (and even had her killed) during the party’s first elective conference in Bloemfontein.
At the time, the story seemed intriguing because Ndlozi had been replaced by an acting spokesperson in the form of Fana Mokoena. When the media requested comment on the allegations, we were told by the EFF in a statement that Ndlozi was not actively involved in his party role while doing work on his PhD thesis.
“Commissar Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is on study leave, working on his PhD thesis, and will come back as head of communications and spokesperson on the 1st of February 2015,” the opposition party said at the time.
He duly did return to his post.
At the time the allegations first surfaced, the party declared it would take the ANC to court over a series of tweets by an account called @ANC_BRANCH that claimed “Commissar Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is attending a court case for rape”.
That Twitter account was soon closed down, however.
The EFF dismissed the claim with contempt in 2015, and said it would “officially go to court to seek compensation for the ANC’s desperate attempt to damage the good revolutionary posture and face of the EFF”.
In its statement it added that “the ANC will never understand this fact because, in their organisation, their leaders take leave only when they are attending court cases for one felony or another”.
“We are aware that attempts were made by rapists and sodomists from failed political organisations to instigate newspapers to write this nonsensical allegations about the EFF spokesperson and were rejected because there is completely nothing of that nature and kind.
“The EFF values education and recurrently allow its leaders to take study breaks to pursue education. If, in other organisations, leaders take breaks for other purposes, it is not the case with the EFF.”
It’s amusing how gossip and rumours can cause ripples in the big Twitter pond. However, as the day progressed, Twitter was largely unimpressed by the rumours and users on the whole dismissed them as the fabrications of “paid Twitter”:
https://twitter.com/SiphiwoNzawumbi/status/756440894656634880
https://twitter.com/SiphiwoNzawumbi/status/756435768097275905
https://twitter.com/khutso/status/756471693422592002
At the time, the story seemed intriguing because Ndlozi had been replaced by an acting spokesperson in the form of Fana Mokoena. When the media requested comment on the allegations, we were told by the EFF in a statement that Ndlozi was not actively involved in his party role while doing work on his PhD thesis.
“Commissar Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is on study leave, working on his PhD thesis, and will come back as head of communications and spokesperson on the 1st of February 2015,” the opposition party said at the time.
He duly did return to his post.
At the time the allegations first surfaced, the party declared it would take the ANC to court over a series of tweets by an account called @ANC_BRANCH that claimed “Commissar Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is attending a court case for rape”.
That Twitter account was soon closed down, however.
The EFF dismissed the claim with contempt in 2015, and said it would “officially go to court to seek compensation for the ANC’s desperate attempt to damage the good revolutionary posture and face of the EFF”.
In its statement it added that “the ANC will never understand this fact because, in their organisation, their leaders take leave only when they are attending court cases for one felony or another”.
“We are aware that attempts were made by rapists and sodomists from failed political organisations to instigate newspapers to write this nonsensical allegations about the EFF spokesperson and were rejected because there is completely nothing of that nature and kind.
“The EFF values education and recurrently allow its leaders to take study breaks to pursue education. If, in other organisations, leaders take breaks for other purposes, it is not the case with the EFF.”
On Friday, the old allegations resurfaced on social media for some reason and Ndlozi tweeted that the cause was “ANC Philistines with uncircumcised hearts” who were trying to tarnish his name. He said lies “have short legs”.
ANC Philistines with uncircumcised hearts are trying to tarnish my name but they will never succeed. Because Lies have short legs! Salute!— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) July 22, 2016
It’s amusing how gossip and rumours can cause ripples in the big Twitter pond. However, as the day progressed, Twitter was largely unimpressed by the rumours and users on the whole dismissed them as the fabrications of “paid Twitter”:
ANC paid is working over time trying to assassinate Mbuyiseni Ndlozi's character with baseless allegations— Runaway Slave (@Odwa_Obose) July 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/SiphiwoNzawumbi/status/756440894656634880
Paid twitter tryna convince us that Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is a rapist.— Thapelo! (@Thapz_CFC) July 22, 2016
Your president is the actual rapist.
https://twitter.com/SiphiwoNzawumbi/status/756435768097275905
People want proof uba Ndlozi raped, how? ifunywana phi iproof ye rape?— Mandlela ❤️ (@tumietango) July 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/khutso/status/756471693422592002
Long before Fransman rape saga, an MP shouted out in parly asking Ndlozi "Where's that girl"But Uninformed Twitter now acting fresh
— Dont Die Ignorant (@themaytrix23) July 22, 2016
