EFF and DA supporters go to war over Maimane’s ‘personal number’
DA supporters responded by attempting to obtain EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi's number.
FILE PHOTO: Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party leader Julius Malema (2nd L) speaks flanked by Democratic Alliance (DA) party leader Mmusi Maimane (L), United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa (2nd R) and Corne Mulder (R) of the Freedom Front Plus (FF+), as they give a press conference. Picture: AFP PHOTO.
A Twitter user known for her support for the EFF, known on the platform only as Mmapula, took to Twitter to share what she said was DA leader Mmusi Maimane’s personal cellphone number.
Mmapula posted the number, inviting her followers to phone Maimane and “remind him to” register to vote.
This is likely a reference to the unsolicited bulk SMSes his party is famous for sending around election time, with recent ones encouraging South African citizens to register to vote in the 2019 elections.
Picture: Screenshot.
The last four digits of Maimane’s alleged number were not lost on those who reacted to the tweet.
They are ‘1652’, the date when Jan van Riebeeck’s ships first sighted South Africa, where they docked the next day.
White South Africans are often referred to as the “1652 mob”, with the date used as a disparaging nickname by “black Twitter”, and Maimane and his party are considered by some on Twitter as representing the interests of white South Africans – something he has consistently denied, billing the DA as inclusive and even declaring it the only party continuing the legacy of Nelson Mandela.
The EFF supporter later took to Twitter to declare her direct messages on the platform under “attack” from DA supporters.
It seems some DA supporters messaged her in an attempt to get the numbers of prominent EFF members including spokesperson Mbuyiseni. She did not take the bait.
Picture: Screenshot.
Picture: Screenshot.
Whether or not the digits are actually Maimane’s personal cell number is unclear. Some on Twitter commented that the user may have made it up as a joke due to the last four digits. Whoever’s number it is has probably received a significant amount of calls and messages as a result of the tweet.
The Citizen both texted and called the number, and had not managed to get through at the time of publication of this story.
We also could not leave a message, as the mailbox is currently full.
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