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IN TWEETS: Twitter reacts to spat between Manyi and DA's Van Damme

An exchange of vitriol on Twitter between Mzwanele Manyi and DA MP Phumzile van Damme has sparked a number of responses from bemused social media users.

It first started when Manyi posted a tweet on Thursday morning bemoaning the weak rand, the petrol price and the fact that South Africa is "now in recession". In the same post, Manyi also claimed that "some in leadership are compromised".

On Thursday night, Van Damme responded to the tweet, telling Manyi to "spare us the moral indignation". She also told him he was "part of the crew that brought us here".

Manyi fired back with another bulleted list tweet, placing the blame on those who "said #ZumaMustFall", those who "wanted a market approved Finance Minister" and those who "said away with the Guptas".

It's unclear from Manyi's post whether he is directly addressing Van Damme and blaming her, the DA, or referring to anyone calling for the same.

He finished off by asking: "Now we have a mess and you don’t want to own it?"

Needless to say, it stirred up a mixture of anger and amusement in responses by other Twitter users.

Manyi has been linked to the Gupta family, most recently at the ongoing judicial commission of inquiry into state capture, where he was implicated in testimony by acting Government Communication and Information System(GCIS) director general Phumla Williams.

Williams told the commission that a number of tender processes were flouted, and government funds were channelled to the Guptas' media interests during Manyi's time as CEO of GCIS.

Particular mention was made of the controversial SABC/The New Age (TNA) breakfasts, arranged by the Gupta-owned newspaper.

Manyi further landed himself in hot water when he sent Williams a text message during a break in her testimony, instructing her to tell the commission that "the TNA breakfasts did not happen in his time". Williams asserted that Manyi was trying to influence her submission.

Manyi has since formally written to the commission, asking for an opportunity to "place his version on record".


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