ANC midnight voting sends ‘after-dark Twitter’ into a tailspin
The ANC communications marshals initially informed the media through electronic communication that voting had been halted to this morning.
ANC delegates celebrate during the nominations at the ANC’s 54th National Elective Conference at Nasrec, Johannesburg, on 17 December 2017. The ANC gathers to elect new leadership, including a new party president for which Cyril Ramaphosa and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma are the candidates. Picture: Yeshiel Panchia
This announcement in all likelihood also reached some delegates as they started making their way to places of abode just after Zweli Mkhize delivered his treasury report to the plenary.
After a brief moment of the blind leading the blind, it was ANN7 that short-circuited the ANC official communication channels and informed the media that voting had indeed resumed just after midnight
“Veterans are voting already,” Abhinav from ANN7 announced.
This contradicted an earlier statement that “voting has been postponed purely for logistical and practical reasons, if it commences now, it will conclude tomorrow at 6am” at about 11.22pm.
“Apologies, comrades. The decision has been rescinded, and voting will go ahead now,” it was official announced. Twitter remained awake to track developments on the matter.
#ANC54 Plenary has just decided now that voting for Top6 will in fact go ahead tonight & decision to postpone was rescinded. ANC confirmed.
— POWER987News (@POWER987News) December 17, 2017
Journalists wondered if this was a wise move. “These midnight shuffles. There are delegates fast asleep, will they be accommodated,” Gaye Davis asked.
#ANC54 Veterans have concluded voting, followed by Free State & now Northern Cape. Singing & caucusing outside voting venue.
— POWER 98.7 (@Powerfm987) December 17, 2017
#ANC54 Veterans have concluded voting, followed by Free State & now Northern Cape. Singing & caucusing outside voting venue.
— Xolani Mbanjwa (@mbanjwax) December 17, 2017
Others were worried, and wondered if what happened in the dark would ever emerge during the light.
https://twitter.com/Nuna_Popps/status/942541019769462784
Just as voting got under way, ANN7 outpaced all other media houses and announced who the winner was.
https://twitter.com/modiehi_thulo/status/942541764271005696
There was one person whose name was linked to the prospects of our tanking currency.
I hope whatever the outcome Pravin is happy since our Rand depends on his moods 😒
— Flo Letoaba (@floletoaba) December 17, 2017
It was then pointed out that at these twilight hours, all candidates could perhaps do well to place their faith in the Almighty.
🎶🎶ukholo lwami ngiyo nyuka nalo pic.twitter.com/59gukuvaON
— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) December 17, 2017
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