Cape Town – Gupta-owned media appear to be convinced that there is a plot involving high level ANC members to topple party leader President Jacob Zuma.
In reports that news station ANN7 and newspaper, The New Age, have been carrying since Thursday on the #ZumaMustFallBrigade, it is claimed that there are two factions in the party, one involving the ‘generals’ and the other called ‘the rebels’.
The Gupta-owned media groups say that according to their sources, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is seen as the frontrunner for the job of Number One while Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe is an alternative candidate.
The reports say that party secretary general Gwede Mantashe is believed to be backing Ramaphosa while SA Communist Party secretary general Solly Mapaila is also on their team.
There does appear to be some authenticity to the SACP claim as the party said in a statement earlier this week that the Guptas want Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies removed in a Cabinet reshuffle.
But The New Age would also have one believe that national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa, Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor and Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini amongst others are part of the faction backing Zuma.
But South African tweeters were merciless in their criticism of the story. Constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos said it was akin to SABC propaganda from 1988.
“So @ANN7tv is hash tagging #ZumaMustFallPlot - because this is all just a great big plot to oust the President...” tweeted Eyewitness News reporter Mandy Wiener.
The #ZumaMustFallPlot conspiracy on @ANN7tv is laughable desperately trying to divert the attention from #Guptas
— Lucky (@Lucky_Nhlanhla1) March 18, 2016
Surprisingly only the @ANN7tv has this #ZumaMustFallPlot as breaking news for 2 straight days. Lol they are really trying so hard shame
— Themba Mbuzi (@TMbuzi) March 17, 2016
.@JacquesMaree73 That hashtag though... #ZumaMustFallPlot ?? @ANN7tv @The_New_Age pic.twitter.com/QOskGBXW9V
— Marthélize Tredoux (@Konfytbekkie) March 17, 2016
#ZumaMustFallPlot is being used by ANN7. The Guptas have even captured Zuma 's hashtag
— Ryan Cummings (@Pol_Sec_Analyst) March 17, 2016
