Social media blew up yesterday with #PaidTwitter, a scandal that the ANC are finding themselves in with regards to trying to control the political rhetoric.
The ANC have been accused of paying South African influencers to control the online conversation to ‘disempower’ opposition parties. They first denied all claims and were then forced to back-pedal on claims that it had no knowledge of the covert election campaign team known as the ‘War Room’.
The entire conversation that was trying to be controlled, has now completely spiraled into an airing of dirty laundry on social media.
In a nutshell… Sihle Bolani, a Public Relations expert, took the ANC to court claiming she was owed R2.2m in outstanding fees. ANC general manager Ignatius Jacobs affidavit, on behalf of the ANC, denied that she was owed money, as apparently she had volunteered.
Bolani has detailed how the War Room was set up to “disempower DA and EFF campaigns” through tactics that would not link back to the ANC. These included a seemingly independent news site and chat show, using “influencers” on social media, and planning to print fake opposition party posters.
However, R50m in promised funding did not materialise. After the project’s eventual cancellation, Bolani approached the ANC. This led to Jacobs signing a R1m settlement agreement, of which Bolani claimed to have received only R100 000.
The ANC initially denied the claims but Jacobs submitted an affidavit to the High Court in Johannesburg yesterday confirming that Bolani was part of the ANC’s campaign team in last year’s municipal elections.
He said: “[Bolani] undertook to volunteer her services and be part of the campaign team, together with other volunteers, to roll out the elections marketing strategy of the [ANC] in preparation for the local government elections on 3 August 2016.”
Jacobs said in his affidavit that the ANC disputed Bolani’s original claim for payment “on the grounds that there was no agreement that [she] would charge a fee for services rendered for the said amount. [Bolani], like all other volunteers, would have received payment for disbursements”.
Despite this, Jacobs said, he signed the R1m settlement agreement, “purely as a gesture of good will”.
Although the agreement was drawn up on an ANC letterhead, and Jacobs had signed in his official capacity as ANC general manager, Jacobs claimed that the agreement was “not binding”, as only secretary general Gwede Mantashe could bind the party.
However, “the [ANC] acknowledges that the balance of R900 000 is still outstanding, but is not due and payable at this stage”.
ANC activist Shaka Sisulu found himself at the top of the scandal but rubbished reports he had taken charge of the ruling party’s alleged secret campaign.
On Tuesday he posted on Twitter, “Fake news. No one is safe.” He promised to address all of the speculation on a TV show on which he is a co-host, but did not appear despite his promises.
My phone has been 🔥 it's been impossible to do a thread
I'll answer ur questions tonight on @TrendingSAon3
Ask away. Use the hash #TSAon3
— Shaka Sisulu (@ShakaSisulu) January 24, 2017
After Sisulu failed to deliver on his promise and address questions on the TV show, Twitter zoned in. Thousands of tweets kept the hashtag trending for more than 24 hours as South Africans joined the conversation.
https://twitter.com/Silangwe/status/823855699050594305
R50 million rands for #PaidTwitter why weren't we hired 😭😩 pic.twitter.com/yc9uSTFu7O
— Karabo Mokgoko 🦄 (@Karabo_Mokgoko) January 24, 2017
While @ShakaSisulu was being paid R50m, some students were denied funding by the government #paidtwitter
— •BOIPELO• (@iam__boips) January 24, 2017
Raises R50m in a heartbeat for fake news, AWOL when a student needs 4K to register. Kindly remove education from your manifesto #paidtwitter
— Tshezi (@OnlySimphiwe) January 24, 2017
Shaka Sisulu's DMs right now with those #PaidTwitter applications. pic.twitter.com/neRvwJeJnK
— Social South Africa (@SocialSA_) 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
— #OurLandAndJobsNow (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) January 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/Barry_Roux/status/823995971185049605
#PaidTwitter
ANC, Shaka & crew trying to contain the allegations but— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) January 24, 2017
Everyone must save water, even #PaidTwitter must save water. Thanks^TK
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) January 25, 2017
After being exposed, #PaidTwitter blesser and benefactor Shaka Sisulu is like… pic.twitter.com/2dF1k2idis
— Public Protester (@Pasco_e) January 24, 2017
Here’s a tip for future online campaigns… of any kind. Trying to control social media will usually result in the exact opposite. Just saying.