Former Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane. Photo: Supplied
The Twitterati are busy penning Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane’s biography one tweet at a time, but it’s one that teases at the DA’s politicking rather than Maimane’s real life.
Mayihlome Tshwete, spokesperson for Home Affairs and an occassional rabble rouser on Twitter, inspired it all when he accused the DA leader of lying. Earlier this week, Maimane said that back in the 1990s he voted for the party of Nelson Mandela to take the presidency
“IEC needs to explain how Mmusi voted for Mandela at age 14 … we need answers,” Tshwete tweeted on Monday.
The Home Affairs rep might’ve missed the part where Maimane said he voted for Nelson Mandela’s party – meaning the ANC – in 1999, which was quite legal given that he was 19 at the time.
But nevertheless, Tshwete’s followers latched on to his tweets and a new hashtag was born.
On an early Monday afternoon, with the workweek only just beginning, South Africans on Twitter seized the moment to throw shade at Maimane. The DA leader’s accomplishments, according to Twitter, include ending apartheid.
After fighting against apartheid, Maimane had a legendary sporting win that made the country beam.
And even enjoyed success in the music business. Black Coffee really should’ve thanked Maimane when he won the BET Award for Best International Act.
FYI: If you really want to know who let the dogs out, then all you have to do is ask Maimane.
But let’s not forget food. Politics of the stomach, comrades, we must know what recipes our political leaders have cooked up.
Even Malema has something to thank Maimane for.
As politicians and citizens hunker down for local government elections, the real story of Mmusi Maimane might be a long way off from ending.