This snappy comeback from Buti Manamela will make your Friday

A witty Twitter comeback from Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela to a Twitter hater has earned him a lot of fans.

A user called Lazarus Mothogwane thought he was giving the deputy minister a bit of stick by taunting him just after midnight on Friday morning. Seriously? Who tweets cabinet members at the witching hour?

There Mothogwane was, in the dead of night, with a pressing question on his mind. He wanted to know why President Cyril Ramaphosa had spared Manamela on Monday in his first cabinet reshuffle after taking office as the new Number One citizen.

However, Mothogwane’s grammar left a lot to be desired: “How did Cyril left u behind when he was reshuffling.”

How did Cyril left u behind when he was reshuffling

— kgomotshehla mothogwane (@kgomotshehla) March 1, 2018

Manamela (who had hopefully been asleep at the time Mothogwane’s assault on both him and the English language was perpetrated) responded a few hours later: “So that I help you with your past, present and future tenses.”

So that I help you with your past, present and future tenses. https://t.co/a557dl6OHp

— Buti Manamela (@ButiManamela) March 2, 2018

This distinct lack of chill has generated a lot of hilarious reaction, with even political analyst and author Richard Calland remarking that it was “seriously well played”:

https://twitter.com/asandamagaqa/status/969487676310261761

Bayihlubile😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/fanFewDovy

— Tsakani Ntsanwisi (@Tsakintsako) March 2, 2018

Well he doesn't complete ANC even he hates it pic.twitter.com/sdaB1ZbsDw

— Tsakani Ntsanwisi (@Tsakintsako) March 2, 2018

"how DID Cyril LEFT …"

Engrish is not out motherland DM please pic.twitter.com/Gi05VqhMse

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The sky is blue for me, Elon

— Lager not Tintswalo (@LagerMntumni) March 2, 2018

https://twitter.com/vinsolani/status/969459810600136704

Engrish never lubbed us. pic.twitter.com/x9C6V2fdfs

— Mrs Dɪˈmiːnə(ɹ)💫 (@Letsang) March 2, 2018

I felt that!! 😁😁😁 pic.twitter.com/R13blyyy1S

— Revolutionary (@Common_man18) March 2, 2018

😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/dTDSWMnPHm

— Kgotlelelo (@brokgotli) March 2, 2018

Rubbish. O mo laile 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/2TiSZTxGwX

— (M)(A)(H)(L)(A)(T)(S)(E) (@Hlatsegul) March 2, 2018

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/OauFkKG5J5

— Truth Team (@SKHESHE3) March 2, 2018

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/nEu8shEbsf

— 2ways (@Thu2ka_) March 2, 2018