Mngxitama, Manyi ‘fooled’ by fake picture of Vytjie Mentor with Rupert

It’s a battle between those who purport to be fighting white monopoly capital and those who are accused of defending it.

This battle has seen those involved use unprecedented methods, too, with fake news not off the menu.

Recently, it was revealed that the ANC allegedly bankrolled an underground campaign movement called the “War Room”. The campaign was said to be aimed at discrediting the EFF and DA in the run-up to the 2016 local government elections.

Black First Land First leader Andile Mngxitama and the Progressive Professionals Forum’s Mzwanele Manyi are either the victims of the latest round of fake news, or if they weren’t actually fooled by it, they have some explaining to do around why they are spreading it.

Look what I stumbled upon👀 pic.twitter.com/KihJ5FvWdt

— Mzwanele Manyi (@MzwaneleManyi) March 6, 2017

They were both apparently convinced by a photoshopped picture of former ANC Vytjie Mentor and wealthy businessman Johann Rupert in a private jet. However, according to publicly available records, the picture of Mentor was taken by Esa Alexander of the Sunday Times and is made available for republication through Gallo Images. See the original picture below:

Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Esa Alexander)

“Did Johann Rupert tell fake Vytjie to lie about president Zuma and the Guptas? What was the private jet trip about? Joy ride?” asked Mngxitama. However, upon realising that it was photoshopped, Mngxitama said: “Apparently fake Vytjie says the picture was Photoshoped [sic]. The counter propaganda produced more fake news. What’s fake what’s not? Fake times”.

“Let vytjie deny meeting Johan Rupert. That’s more authentic. Fake times,” he added.

An array of other similar photoshopped pictures emerged in trying to convince the two that the picture was fake, and Manyi also got his special photoshopped picture with the controversial Rupert.

https://twitter.com/CamModisane/status/838725171297013761

Below is what appears to be the original Rupert picture.

Oow haishame maan Krila couldn't you have asked someone with better Photoshop skills. pic.twitter.com/cqFa1lTjqi

— Mpinga (@SipheMacanda) March 6, 2017