Ex state spin doctor Manyi finds ‘new political home’
Former government spokesperson and owner of the erstwhile ANN7 news channel and The New Age newspaper‚ Mzwanele Manyi‚ is poised to jump ship from the ANC.
Manyi took to social media late on Saturday to announce that he had a big announcement to make later in the evening.
This big announcement turned out to be an invitation to media to attend a briefing on Wednesday at which, he said, he would announce his “new political home” and his reasons behind this.
In the wake of his tweets on Saturday night‚ Manyi took flack‚ with many criticising him for what was called an “announcement to make an announcement”.
One of those who reacted to Manyi’s pending big announcements was Mbhazima Shilowa‚ Manyi’s former ANC comrade and one of the founders of COPE‚ itself a breakaway party from the ANC.
Shilowa lashed out at Manyi‚ who he claimed always advised against leaving a political party because of differing views and rather encouraged changing it from within.
If Manyi announces a new political party‚ it would come shortly after another former media player – former SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng – unveiled a new party last month.
Motsoeneng’s party is the African Content Movement.
At a media conference‚ Motsoeneng said he was confident his party “would rule South Africa”.
“I want to be president. That is the bottom line‚” he said.