President Jacob Zuma caused quite a commotion on social networking site Twitter yesterday after he punted a television sitcom which features two of his daughters.
Zuma said on his Twitter account: “I encourage you all to tune into channel 107 Tonight on dstv at 7pm for a new sitcom ‘it’s for life’ it promises to be great #itsforlife”.
It’s For Life is a new sitcom on DStv’s Mzansi magic channel which features Zuma’s daughters Gugulethu and Nokuthula in a story of four 20-something women who have ups-and-downs in love, career and friendship.
But some of the president’s Twitter followers reacted with shock and amusement to his statement yesterday. One of the followers replied: “@SAPresident did you get paid to tweet that by DStv?”
Another follower wrote: “Is the president for real about that sitcom tweet? What the…?” Others were more sarcastic writing: “Irony that the president is advertising for a DStv channel and not for SABC.”
And another follower added: “huh! Ok Mr Pres I will.”
Zuma’s online presence began in May when he registered his Twitter account @SAPresident which has more than 38 000 followers and had 65 updates by yesterday afternoon.
But it was the first time Zuma had used the social network to comment on anything outside his presidential duties.
He has, in the past, posted comments about his diplomatic travels, official meetings and or government policy or his speeches in Parliament. It’s For Life started on Mzansi Magic channel 107 last night.
Zuma’s daughters play two of the lead roles in the sitcom. The other roles are played by Nkuli Sibeko-Bortman and Thalitha Ndima.
“Gugulethu takes the role of Coco, an events co-ordinator by profession and a so-called ‘coconut’ by choice – actively distancing herself from her Zulu roots,” says the channel on the sitcom’s publicity release.
“Nokuthula stars as Jabu an aspiring radio DJ who lives for her music.”
Thuli studied at Afda Film School in Cape Town, majoring in acting for film, and graduating with a BA in live performance.
After first working in educational theatre she spent much of last year touring with the award-winning one-woman show Tin Bucket Drum.
Gugulethu graduated with a BA degree in live performance also from Afda in 2006, and has since had roles in several television series, among them Interrogation Room and Isidingo. – Staff Reporter