DA lays into Dlamini-Zuma after ‘accusing’ party of instigating Mahikeng protests

The DA has slammed Minister in the Presidency Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma after she accused the party of “bribing” some community members in North West to take to the streets and call for the immediate removal of premier Supra Mahumapelo.

Several people have been arrested since Wednesday following violent protests and looting by residents of the provincial capital, Mahikeng, and nearby villages calling for the premier to step down amid allegations of corruption and service delivery failures in the province.

Taking to Twitter on Saturday morning, Dlamini-Zuma said she had received news from anonymous community members who claimed that DA members in North West were bribing some protesters to cause chaos in the province, but she later deleted the tweet.

Dlamini-Zuma has distanced herself from the controversial tweet and apologised to the DA, saying those were not her views on the ongoing protests and claimed that her account was hacked. The minister said she took responsibility for the tweet as it was her official Twitter account that had sent out the message.

She tweeted: “My sincere and deepest apologies to @Our_DA, it’s supporters and leadership for the previous tweets. They are NOT my views. My account has been hacked and this sinister act is most unfortunate at a time when I’m paying my last respects to my comrade [ANC stalwart Zola Skweyiya].”

My sincere and deepest apologies to @Our_DA, it’s supporters and leadership for the previous tweets. They are NOT my views. My account has been hacked and this sinister act is most unfortunate at a time when I’m paying my last respects to my comrade.

— Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma (@DlaminiZuma) April 21, 2018

I will take responsibility because it is my Twitter account and I’m a public figure but rest assured that those are NOT my views. Again I apologize.

— Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma (@DlaminiZuma) April 21, 2018

However, the DA wasn’t convinced by Dlamini-Zuma’s excuse that her Twitter account was hacked. Party leader Mmusi Maimane criticised the ANC of taking it’s time to deal with the protests in North West and urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to listen to the people of Mahikeng and fire Mahumapelo immediately.

Ramaphosa on Friday vowed to “speedily” address the complaints raised by protestors after cutting short his trip to the UK for the Commonwealth Summit to attend to the violent protests in the province.

Supra remains in office, hospital and clinics are dysfunctional. So while the Anc engage, South Africans in #Mahikeng are left without service. Our worry is what happens when KZN, FS, MP and other provinces face similar. May we have a peaceful and speedy resolution.

— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) April 20, 2018

The ANC and @CyrilRamaphosa need to listen to the people of #Mahikeng who have been undermined and let down by Mahumapelo.

How much more destruction and allegations of corruption before Mahumapelo is recalled? pic.twitter.com/nA9lbTk0qh

— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) April 21, 2018

That awkward moment when you realize that Carl Niehaus still has your Twitter log in details 🙄 https://t.co/olaVT5knm9

— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) April 21, 2018

This quite disrespectful to the people of Mahikeng and the North West. A whole Minister in the Presidency stooping this low. The question must be asked, is this the view of the Presidency? In an incendiary situation, lies are not only unhelpful but dangerous, she must account. https://t.co/Xkszj95XuN

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) April 21, 2018

I see @DlaminiZuma has now deleted the tweet. Will she claim she was “hacked” again? An apology to SA is needed! pic.twitter.com/JtIqtOZZTt

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) April 21, 2018

Yes, naughty hackers always posting outrageous tweets on her account. It only happens to her, no other high profile politicians. Poor her. https://t.co/qK3TuhyjXD

— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) April 21, 2018