Pityana Zuma attack sparks Twitter storm

SLOW claps, nostalgia, banter, and reflection. These were some of the reactions Sipho Pityana sparked on Twitter yesterday as he launched a scathing verbal assault on President Jacob Zuma.

Among those applauding the speech were ordinary South Africans and opposition party politicians.

Former ANC Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa (@Enghumbhini) jibed: “If looks could kill, Sipho Pityana would be buried alongside Stofile today. The way comrades looked at him …”

Pootie Tang (@Mdudemeiste) and others reckoned Pityana’s should have been saved for last. “His speech was gonna be a proper summary of what utata uStofile stood for. #StofileFuneral,” he wrote.

Bantu Holomisa ( @BantuHolomisa), another of Zuma’s adversaries, wrote that Pityana’s speech was the launch of “operation #CollectiveGoHome/Hambakhaya”. This was in reference to the ANC national executive committee’s defence of Zuma.

“Fikile Mbalula & Gwede Mantashe sitting stony faced at Stofile funeral as #SiphoPityana lashes #Zuma! Amazing; crunching blow to JZ!” wrote Edris Hlongwane(@ edrishlongwane).

Phindile Kunene (@ kunenephindz) wrote: “Sipho Pityana reminds us of the revolutionary values of the ANC which have been eroded by a self-serving myopic leadership.”

I Entrepreneurship @ BayekeniSA wrote: “Sipho Pityana is one leader who deserves to Dab! He’s killing it on the Podium #StofileFuneral.”