The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal is pulling out all the stops in a desperate bid to uncover the twisted individuals behind a disturbing voice note that called for the mass poisoning of elderly women who failed to vote for the ruling party in the recent elections.
In an unprecedented move, the ANC has dangled a staggering R100,000 reward for any information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the vile recording, which has sent shockwaves through the province.
"I know they love attending ceremonies, I will get the poison and put it in the food so that all these rotten Zulu elderly women can die … They are trash," the chilling voice on the recording can be heard saying.
The voice note, which was widely shared on social media platforms, was purported to be from ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo. However, in a hastily arranged press conference, Mtolo categorically denied any involvement, labelling the recording as "fake" and a sinister attempt to sow division within the party.
"We wish to alert WhatsApp group users and group administrators that in terms of the Cybercrimes Act of 19 of 2020, it is a criminal offence to use social media to fabricate and publish defamatory content," ANC provincial spokesperson Mafika Mndebele warned, vowing "severe consequences against criminals and individuals who are distributing this voice note."
The brazen bounty offer comes as the ANC finds itself reeling from a stunning electoral defeat in KwaZulu-Natal, where the upstart uMkontho weSizwe Party (MKP) emerged victorious, securing a whopping 45.32% of the provincial vote. In comparison, the once-dominant ANC managed a meager 17% – a result Mtolo admitted the party had "underestimated."
"The MK Party, which was only formed in December last year, leads KZN with 45.32%, followed by the Inkatha Freedom Party 18.04%, and the ANC on 17%," Mtolo confessed to eNCA, conceding that the ANC had been "punished" by voters who were desperate for an alternative.
The stunning reversal of fortunes in the province has left the ANC reeling, with party insiders now scrambling to make sense of the seismic shift in the political landscape. The emergence of the MKP, led by the ever-controversial Jacob Zuma, has clearly unsettled the ruling party, who appear to be pulling out all the stops to cling to power in the province.
As the fallout from the elections continues to reverberate, the ANC's decision to offer a R100,000 bounty for information on the "kill the grannies" voice note has sparked outrage, with many accusing the party of attempting to deflect attention from its own failings.
