CAPE TOWN - Since news broke about Nkosikho Mbele's good will gesture Twitter users have been filled with joy, amusement and irritation - bordering on disdain - for energy company Shell and crowdfunding site BackaBuddy.
How did this start?
Mbele, a resident in Khayelitsha became an overnight hero after he used R100 out of his own pocket to pay for fuel for 21-year-old Monet van Deventer who had forgotten her bank card.
Van Deventer took to Facebook to share the story and her post has since been shared over 50 000 times. She also started a crowdfunding campaign on the site BackaBuddy for Mbele with the aim of raising R100 000. The campaign clearly resonated with South Africans and surpassed the R100 000 mark, reaching R400 000 in just a few days.
But people on Twitter were not happy on Monday when news surfaced that the money raised would not be given to Mbele directly and would instead be managed the crowdfunding platform on his behalf. The was apparently due to his safety.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/backabuddy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@backabuddy. FFS.
— Ottilia Anna MaSibanda (@MaS1banda)
undefinedAfter the criticism BackaBuddy released this statement: "In response to your concerns, Nkosikho will have full control of how his funds are utilised. Based on his personal request, the relevant institutions (children's education and living and home expenses) will be paid directly by BackaBuddy"
undefinedSHELL GETS DRAGGED
Then the Shell news broke. Shell's country chair, Hloniphizwe Mtolo, was seen on a video congratulating Mbele on the phone for his good deed. Mtolo then stated that Shell will be donating R500 000 to a charity of Mbele's choice and that Mbele would also be nominated in the upcoming Shell Service Awards and was invited to attend the ceremony in Zanzibar.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/Shell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Shell pic.twitter.com/uI6Kgda5XY
— Ronald Abvajee (@RonaldAbvajee)
Users on Twitter were appalled at the apparent gall of Shell, who they accused of using a innocent and selfless moment to promote their brand and company.
But users went further and accused the company of being short sighted. Many users felt that the reality is that Mbele does not have the money or property to adequately uplift himself or his family and that the money Shell was giving to charity should in fact go to him.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/NkosikhoMbele?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NkosikhoMbele pic.twitter.com/KiguY1D0mT
— kenz (@Bokenza1)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/Shell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Shell,how is 500k donation to a charity of choice going to help #NkosikhoMbele. Your are such a disgrace to black people...is that the best you could do???😡😡😡 #BoycottShell
— Big Daddy.....!!!! (@MakhubuSimanga)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/Shell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shellstop this now. Give this guy his cash #NkosikhoMbele
— Calm and collected Rob waku Binga (@robertsimaz)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Shell?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Shellforcing him to donate to charity, is a PR disaster‼️ #NkosikhoMbele pic.twitter.com/o9szAin4mT
— Mzansi Facts (@mzansi_facts)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/Shell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Shellis asking #NkosikhoMbele at the age of 28 to choose a charity of his choice, donate 500k yet they haven’t ask him what he wants? However they are taking him to the some awards 😂😂😂 trust Corporate S.A to ill-treat blacks #BoycottShell pic.twitter.com/rEk7Z9Fkul
— TIMOTHY. K. H. MOGOGOLE™ (@JustTimnyc)
WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAVE YOUR SAY HERE:
Do you think @Shell should rather give the R500 000 to #NkosikhoMbele?
— Cape Times (@CapeTimesSA) June 4, 2019