#someonetellsouthafrica: South Africans side with Kenyans in Twitter ‘war’

Yesterday South Africa’s Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula sparked a Twitter tiff when he made some less than savoury comments about Kenya during a press conference. According to a Mail & Guardian report, Mbalula made off-topic comments on how South Africa would not be like Kenya and send athletes to the Olympics to “drown in the pool”.

His off-colour remarks not only sparked a response from Kenyans, but it seems that most South Africans have decided used it as an opportunity to distance themselves from the Minister, with a few tweeting to Kenyans that they do not support the views of the Minister.

#someonetellKenya We agree with them. Please don't judge our people by the stupidity of our current ministers #someonetellsouthafrica

— Gїηα (@0pinion8d) April 30, 2014

The comment has resulted in two Twitter hastags that have both trended in South African and Kenya. #someonetellsouthafrica and #someonetellkenya were in full force on Tuesday night as well as Wednesday morning as citizens of both countries found ways to comment on each country’s infrastructure.

The Minister has yet to apologise, also tweeting that he had nothing to apologise for:

@BikoIntellect apologies for what ?Nonsense.

— Fikile (@MbalulaFikile) April 29, 2014

He has also commented that his comment was both to Kenya’s strengths and weaknesses:

@robynleekriel nonsense plse Kenya comparison is both to their strength and weakness there's context in everything

— Fikile (@MbalulaFikile) April 29, 2014

Though there have been many tweets bashing South Africa, the Minister is of the notion that a Twitter row is “petty” and the platform should rather be used to educate:

#someonetellKenya that South Africa and Kenya have a shared vision of a united prosperous Africa.Use Twitter to educate not for petty fights

— Fikile (@MbalulaFikile) April 29, 2014

Though there was some back and forth banter between Kenyans and South Africans, the bulk of the tweets seem to be more focused on getting Kenyans to see that not all South Africans agree with Mbalula. Some South Africans have also decided to use the opportunity to highlight some issues in the country.

#Someonetellsouthafrica our police vs their police pic.twitter.com/E16WUpX5NR

— Masaku (@masaku_) April 29, 2014

I’m convinced that @MbalulaFikile is a parody account – no minister can be this ‘astute’ #someonetellsouthafrica #someonetellkenya

— Angelo Coppola (@angelo2711) April 29, 2014

#someonetellsouthafrica that the civil liberties we cherish are under serious threat #Ayisafani2

— Gavin Davis (@gavdavis) April 30, 2014

#SomeoneTellSouthAfrica that the rest of the continent has just discovered our top standup act, Fikile Mbalula. #nowyoufeelourpain

— Tom Eaton (@TomEatonSA) April 29, 2014

#someonetellsouthafrica those of us in Nairobi offices right now want to bury our heads in the sand. Mara #Mbalula embarrassing us. mxm

— Nqobile Buthelezi (@Buthelezi) April 30, 2014