A scandal that implicates a number of South African politicians has been trending on Twitter since yesterday. This comes after Sihle Bolani, a Public Relations strategist took the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa’s ruling party to court, claiming that the party owed her R2.2 million for public relations services she rendered during the municipal elections in 2016.
According to a report by amaBungane, the ANC had planned to spend R50 million on a campaign known as “War Room”, targeting opposition parties. The campaign was aimed at undermining opposition parties by amongst others, producing fake opposition party posters. Other tactics of “War Room” included a news website, a talk show and social media.
According to News24, a fake news site named The New South African was created as part of this campaign, which claimed to be a “platform for new voices offering a different perspective of South Africa”.
Political activist Shaka Sisulu, the grandson of anti-apartheid leader Walter Sisulu was allegedly on “Advisory Team” behind the campaign.
Twitter users did not shy away from sharing their thoughts and opinions on this:
https://twitter.com/JabsMkhabela/status/823855515956641793
The biggest mistake ANC made was to allow children of liberators to ride on their fathers' surname to milk the state funds. #paidtwitter
— Pius Khalid Muhammad (@Pius_Ngobs) January 24, 2017
Asked what was your legacy on earth:
Walter Sisulu: I fought against white oppression
Shaka Sisulu: I sold out the truth on #PaidTwitter
— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) January 24, 2017
#PaidTwitter while people were crying about fees must fall . 50M was being allocated to twelebs ? sensational.. tweets> plight of students
— ?????? ??????? (@dr_lolasosas) January 24, 2017
Sihle Bolani is not a hero, she's part of our problem with @MYANC. She "volunteered" on a campaign to misinform SA. #PaidTwitter #WarRoom
— Sonyekethwayo (@Malabulabu945) January 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/Barry_Roux/status/823995971185049605
Why agree to pay a "volunteer" R1million? #WarRoom #PaidTwitter #SihleBolani pic.twitter.com/CzdnueFUvd
— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) January 24, 2017
#PaidTwitter They mess up a simple Twitter campaign, but they want to roll out a massive nuclear program. @MYANC
— Palesa Morudu (@palesa_morudu) January 24, 2017
What concerns me is would Sihle Bolani have come out if she had been paid? Moral degeneration. #paidtwitter @RediTlhabi
— FibroWarrior ? (@navuyo) January 24, 2017
While @ShakaSisulu was being paid R50m, some students were denied funding by the government #paidtwitter
— •BOIPELO• (@iam__boips) January 24, 2017
I am struggling to pay for fees and Accommodation but ANC spents R50 Million on #paidtwitter ??and Ubabes Wo NSFAS is giving us bluetick?
— Gontse??? (@MatshabaGontse) January 24, 2017
Staff Writer
