Civil war breaks out over ANC War Room saga

THE ANC War Room saga has taken a new twist, with senior official in the Gauteng provincial government Kay Sexwale suing ANC supporter Thami Mthimkhulu for R1 million in damages.

This follows a series of tweets claiming Sexwale was part of the War Room team that was planning to smear opposition parties in the August municipal polls.

The Mail & Guardian reported yesterday that fake Twitter accounts were created early in January to attack Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and send positive messages to the Gupta family.

The Gupta family did not respond to emailed questions yesterday.

Various media organisations were also dragged into the fake Twitter accounts saga.

It emerged in high court papers in Johannesburg that PR consultant Sihle Bolani was owed R2.2m by the ANC in connection with an alleged covert operation to tarnish the image of opposition parties, especially the DA and EFF, in the election campaign.

Bolani said among those involved in the “War Room” were Shaka Sisulu and Joseph Nkadimeng.

Sisulu denied any links to the project. He said the allegations were false.

The ANC said Bolani and Sisulu were volunteers of the ANC.

But this has been denied by Bolani, and in a letter this week it emerged she had signed a settlement of R1m with ANC general manager Ignatius Jacobs.

But ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said Sisulu was not an employee of the ANC, and the party was handling the matter of Jacobs.

However, Jacobs has said the contract he signed with Bolani was not binding. The matter was dismissed in the high court as it was deemed not to be urgent.

Meanwhile, In a letter of demand to Mthimkhulu, Sexwale’s lawyers said he must retract his claims made on Twitter.

Despite Bolani not naming Sexwale as part of the War Room team, said the lawyers, Mthimkhulu had said Sexwale was involved in it.

It added that Mthimkhulu claimed Sexwale had been desperate and tried to involve him in anti-Zuma campaigns.

Mthimkhulu is accused of besmirching Sexwale’s name.

Sexwale’s lawyers want Mthimkulu to delete all the offending tweets.

They also want Mthimkhulu to desist from making more defamatory remarks about Sexwale.

Mthimkhulu could not be reached for comment as he did not answer his cellphone or respond to text messages.

The ANC has been criticised by opposition parties over the War Room saga.

The DA said it would take the matter to the Electoral Court because the conduct of the ANC contravened the Electoral Code.

The EFF also said it was considering action.