By Fienie Grobler
TWITTER USERS IN STITCHES OVER MALEMA COMMENT
Twitter users were in stitches on the social networking site on Thursday morning following the news that ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema wanted to close it down.
Tweets kept rolling in by the minute, with international news websites such as BBC, also picking up on the story.
“Julius Malema wants to shut down Twitter?” Hahahahahahahahahaha, best joke4 2day,” several users commented in reply to a post by 5fm radio jock Gareth Cliff.
Another, user EarleneBSmith, said: “Today is create a juju malema account day... do it... you know your red sockes (sic) want to.... lol!”
Garethdv added: “ANCYL to close down Twitter... They truly are a bunch of gifted individuals!”
Another, kerryannerogers, pointed out grammar mistakes in the African National Congress Youth League statement: “In fact ANCYL statement called for 'closer of Twitter' following 'cretation' of fake accounts. Was that so we'd know it was the real Malema?”
The ANCYL said on Wednesday it would call for the closure of Twitter if the social network administrators did nothing to stop Malema impersonators.
“We will look at ways of stopping this... Even if it means going to the police,” spokesman Floyd Shivambu said.
A search of Malema on Twitter reveals 12 users including Julius_Malema, JMalema, Julius_S_Malema and jujumalema.
Of the 12 users six bear the picture of the firebrand youth leader.
The impersonators continued their work on Thursday morning.
One user, named JujuMalemaOZ, offered black empowerment “tips”.
“Julius Malema empowerment tips#10 Friends comrades, badguys Agents, opposition cockroach and Jonny walker yebo yes!.
“Julius Malema empowering tips#9 Agents are everywhere, use a helmet to block brain scanners, no need for me, no brain to scan,” the post read.
Another impersonator, called julius_m_jnr, wrote: “Trying to help Daddy find the Pedi word for 'satire'... Any help plz, how do I explain it to him? #malema.”
Someone else suggested: “Funny We may just have found the ANCYL's weak spot. They're terrified of Twitter. Let's ALL start fake Julius Malema accounts!” - Sapa