Mashaba takes flak over Trump tweets
A vote lost for the DA. That was the response of one South African on Monday to Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba’s comparison of US President Donald Trump with President Cyril Ramaphosa on Twitter.
Mashaba shared a picture listing Trump’s “success” alongside Ramaphosa’s “failure”.
Chris Uitzinger tweeted: “This is revolting. Are you publicly declaring your support for Trump? Another DA vote lost.”
Mashaba later deleted the tweet and said: “This comparison has nothing to do with Trump‚ but with government that serves the people and puts serious matters in perspective.
“It appears some people enjoy seeing our people suffer.”
In another tweet he wrote: “I guess it would help you to have the wisdom to get concern with the suffering of our people under ANC.”
Another tweet noted that Trump took over from Barack Obama while Ramaphosa followed Jacob Zuma.
Hein de Kock responded: “Despicable and disgusting that Trump is now the role model of the DA. This is 100 times worse than Helen Zille’s colonialism tweet!”
On the periphery‚ Western Cape premier Zille responded to De Kock: “Do you genuinely believe the legacy of colonialism was ONLY negative?
“Then let’s scrap the constitution including concepts such as the separation of powers.
“Let’s scrap formal education institutions‚ the English language etc etc.”
Samantha Zilesnick noted how fond Trump and Mashaba are of tweeting.
“@Our–DA I am appalled that you could make this comparison. I honestly think that the DA & Mr Trump should have their phones taken away.”
Justin Pearce wrote: “‘Zero violent demonstrations’ under Trump. Just a neo-Nazi killing a peaceful anti-racism demonstrator with a car.”
Pearce was referring to Heather Heyer, killed last year in Charlottesville‚ Virginia‚ after white supremacists clashed with counter-protesters.
On August 12‚ a man ploughed his car into a crowd of counter-protesters‚ killing Heyer and injuring 19. –