Mpumalanga premiere responds to ANC t-shirt backlash

An image of Mpumalanga premier Refilwe Mtsweni putting a t-shirt on an elderly lady in a shack has caused widespread outrage on social media.

This photo was taken during one of Mtsweni’s many stops during her tour of voter registration stations in an effort to encourage the citizens to register to vote for the upcoming elections.

Mpumalanga News reports that the photo was taken when Mtsweni visited Gogo Khethemaya Gumbi, an elderly resident of Emakhazeni local municipality who was found sitting in a veranda made of corrugated iron outside her RDP house.

The Citizen has not been able to determine where the photo originated from but it has since been widely reposted alongside heavy criticism of the ANC.

ANC elections head Fikile Mbalula has been on the offensive, fielding many of the tweets but to no avail.

https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/1089492355072380928

I know that it's political campaign season, but this does not sit well with me at all. pic.twitter.com/a8ZY6SdZUk

— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) January 27, 2019

I think that in future, volunteers need to look at the optical of what they put out if she asked to be dressed. Perhaps they could have posted the picture her wearing in that case.

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— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) January 27, 2019

Mpumalanga News further reports that during her interactions, the premier noted Gogo Gumbi’s deteriorating health and the need for intervention by the department of social development.

Mtsweni’s spokesperson Zibonele Mncwango explained: “The premier instructed the provincial departments of health and social development to ensure that Gogo Gumbi receives immediate medical attention and the assignment of social workers to intervene in the social dynamics adversely affecting uGogo.”

Mncwango added that the premier rejected the negative perception created on social media, before adding that she would never ignore the plight of the people.

25 years later and the ANC has no shame about walking into people’s homes whose lives haven’t changed but worsened over the years, only to hand out t-shirts and flyers.

It’s an insult. It’s heartless.

South Africans deserve so much better than this. #RegisterForChange pic.twitter.com/4AF2Q8lpwp

— Siviwe Gwarube (@Siviwe_G) January 27, 2019

The ANC fat cats have no shame!!! What's the old woman gonna do with that pathetic t-shirt when she ain't even got proper shelter. pic.twitter.com/yeaPHgUNvW

— His Excellency (@eemz_em) January 27, 2019

https://twitter.com/Mikempaf320/status/1089461421585432578

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