In a lengthy Instagram post, former Generations actress and news anchor Palesa Madisakwane issued a statement detailing the events that led to an unsavoury tweet about “Zola not being relevant”.
“Hi everybody. Kindly note that there were some tweets from my other handle @pmocumenyane about Bonginkosi 'Zola' Dlamini. The fact of the matter is that my PR Assistant, posted tweets on my behalf while I was at work, and they really offended many people including Zola.
On Thursday, I attended the memorial service of Ntate Joe Mafela in the company of my PR Assistant.
She met Zola at the venue of the memorial service and she asked to interview him about the passing on of Mr Mafela, however Zola refused to be interviewed. In that case, I went to work to file for my assignment in the absence of my PR Assistant. Since she has been handling that account, she decided to tweet irrelevant stuff about Zola without my knowledge.
I was also puzzled by her tweets after realising that he was being trolled under @pmocumenyane handle, and many people who read those tweets believed that I was behind such trolling. Kindly note that I am very sorry for such unprofessional act displayed by my PR Assistant and I would like to apologise profusely to Zola and all the people who got offended by those tweets. My PR Assistant went overboard and felt that she had to voice her anger, but all that happened under my name. I have spoken to her and she stated that it was an oversight on her part. Statement issued by Palesa Mocuminyane.” (sic)
Despite her numerous apologies, some Twitter users and Zola fans weren’t budging, they went for her:
Still shocked that Palesa actually tweeted this about Zola our legend. #Zola pic.twitter.com/ji9GMVy6Jr
— (Be / You) (@Lionel_ZA) March 24, 2017
Palesa Mocuminyane. Picture: Twitter
— Handsome manajoel (@Manajoelm) March 24, 2017
Okay, Zola is not relevant. Let's say that's true. Then why did you want to interview him in the first place? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/fwUhDPqc6A
— NOJU (@VillageShrink) March 23, 2017
#Zola is the last of the 7 wonders of the world. he changed lives so we got his back. show respect Palesa man.
— Sibusiso (@sbumakoya) March 24, 2017
#Palesa #ZOLA Same Handwriting - check the time 4 min apart enough time to log off & log on again pic.twitter.com/dQx4E70rYV
— Sankara (@Allan_Tshuma) March 24, 2017
@PMocuminyane U want to trend, u want more followers cos with only 712 u need serious help. Just ask, tomorrow is #FF no need to troll Zola
— Rami Chuene 1st Lady (@ramichuene) March 23, 2017
Irrelevant Zola? Haaiii #Palesa. What are you doing?😀 pic.twitter.com/7ftkYb6xbr
— Bafana Nzimande (@nzimandebafana) March 24, 2017
It seems there are three Palesa accounts and tweeps are still confused about who the real Palesa is:
I don't think this is what they meant by "Triple Threat" 😂 😂 Palesa & the PA's could be a great name for a band though
— Thula Sindi (@thulasindi) March 24, 2017
As for "Goodnight Palesa & Palesa"😂😂❤️ https://t.co/5zHSSbLzgc
— This one. (@lenthengMekgwe) March 23, 2017
— Portia Gumede (@portiagumedesa) March 23, 2017
Palesa is going to be upset when she wakes up. Palesa messed up 3 Palesaz in one night. pic.twitter.com/eEeYG9FNoo
— Portia Gumede (@portiagumedesa) March 23, 2017
So Palesa has a PR company to manage 856 followers pic.twitter.com/1gQSJU47dj
— Uncle Kuls (@kulanicool) March 24, 2017
Just retweet to show some love for #Zola7
As for #Palesa black Twitter is watching u👀 pic.twitter.com/0nOHL9r3l3
— Mr President ✊📶 (@Bongza_Swagg) March 24, 2017
And Palesa apologises yet again, emphasising that it wasn't her who wrote those tweets!
Cheeeee mchuchisi😱 a senna ke entseng nthoena le bone ba tseba😱 asenna asenna le bone ba tseba pic.twitter.com/oYb407fUdn
— Palesa Madisakwane (@PalesaMoc) March 24, 2017
