Update: The author of this piece has reconsidered his views and written a piece explaining why. Read more: #AskMmusi: was Mmusi Maimane’s Twitter town hall actually a triumph?
Opening yourself up to Twitter is a risky business at the best of times. But when you’re a recently elected South African political leader dealing with one of the most cynical Twitter communities on the planet, then things can go very badly wrong.
No ad to show here.
That’s the lesson DA leader Mmusi Maimane’s had to find out the hard way today.
Viewed by many as the opposition party’s attempt to replicate the rapid rise of Barack Obama, Maimane is also seen by some to be an empty vessel for other political interests.
The 35-year-old Maimane is his party’s first black leader and drew wide praise for a speech he made to parliament earlier this year, in which he described president Jacob Zuma as a “broken man”.
In recent weeks however, he has drawn criticism for his religious beliefs (on weekends Maimane is a pastor at an evangelical church) and its stance towards homosexuality, as well as suggesting in a televised debate that South Africans should be able to vote in a referendum on the death penalty. Some suggested that this was a sign that he had failed to grasp basic tenets of the South African constitution.
Given all that, his communications team should perhaps have seen that now may not have been the best time to hold a Twitter town hall.
Nonetheless, they pressed ahead.
The results? They speak for themselves: number two on the worldwide trends and very few kind questions.
The guy who presses the load shedding button, where does he live? #AskMmusi
— Nkwembu (@FanaThePurp) May 13, 2015
Why did Bob Marley shoot the Sherrif but not the Deputy #AskMmusi
— Worship (@wfreemantle) May 13, 2015
If you are the Obama of Soweto, can I be the Mmusi of Mdantsane? #AskMmusi
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) May 13, 2015
Dear @MmusiMaimane who let the dogs out? #AskMmusi
— Anne Hirsch (@Anne_Hirsch) May 13, 2015
When are you going to make me a Natural Wonder of the World? #AskMmusi
— Lion's Head (@LionsHeadCPT) May 13, 2015
Under your leadership, will black people finally get the air con remote??! #AskMmusi
— Sdudla Mafehlefeezy♥ (@lulu_luwela) May 13, 2015
Do you have a smart-shopper card? #AskMmusi
— Sizwe Dhlomo (@SizweDhlomo) May 13, 2015
how did Helen Zille cook without starting the fire?! She may be an answer to load-shedding #AskMmusi pic.twitter.com/AlxO8dZAL6
— garissa (@fistvoices) May 13, 2015
If your girlfriend is broke but goes to Dubai with her 'friends', is your relationship in trouble? #AskMmusi
— #NdimhleFckedUpTho (@JackDevero) May 13, 2015
Why did our mothers make us fetch the stick they gave us hidings with? Just seems mean, don't you think?#AskMmusi
— Mayihlome (@MTshwete) May 13, 2015
Ugh, I'm too white to pronounce your name. Can I just call you Jono? Or Grant? It's easier. #AskMmusi
— jae (@jaymeisterrr) May 13, 2015
What have you learned from Mam' Zille's juggling of party leadership and her role on Keeping Up with the Kardashians? #AskMmusi
— Tommy Tyhilfiger (@SongezoSoya) May 13, 2015
#AskMmusi Can you put milk in the tea before you take the teabag out?
— IG: RobForbesDJ (@RobForbesDJ) May 13, 2015
How come Dr dre signed a deal with Apple if apples keep doctors away??! #AskMmusi
— Sdudla Mafehlefeezy♥ (@lulu_luwela) May 13, 2015
#AskMmusi Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck? #RedditAMA
— Gary Meyer (@garymeyerza) May 13, 2015
Is it true that all the Country Fresh ice cream tubs in your household ACTUALLY contain ice cream and not leftovers? #AskMmusi
— Womb Raider (@iAmKudz) May 13, 2015
If you roll out your Clifton accent while addressing Khayelitsha do you put your tongue back flip it and reverse it? #AskMmusi
— Sinesipho Ngcayisa (@Sinesipho_) May 13, 2015
No, but seriously now… in your household, do you go with the left or the right option? #AskMmusi pic.twitter.com/lnt19oFDXL
— Sizwe Dhlomo (@SizweDhlomo) May 13, 2015
Do you hold it in and wait, or do you just use the women's toilet? #AskMmusi pic.twitter.com/4UmfbUnXSC
— SLAYvoj Žižek (@comradesipho) May 13, 2015
On a scale of 1 to @WOOLWORTHS_SA, how white are you? #AskMmusi
— jae (@jaymeisterrr) May 13, 2015
Hello. Is it me you're looking for? #AskMmusi
— Siyabonga Nyezi (@siyanyezi) May 13, 2015
Pac or Biggie? #AskMmusi
— Gugulethu Mhlungu (@GugsM) May 13, 2015
Do you plan the night before which accent you’re going to take to work or do you decide in the morning? #AskMmusi
— Sizwe Dhlomo (@SizweDhlomo) May 13, 2015
What is the additional M for in your name? Do I pronounce your name moosey? Or Moesee? Being white is hard. #AskMmusi
— jae (@jaymeisterrr) May 13, 2015
Why do some black people say 'Swim Swap' and 'Thanks God'? #AskMmusi
— #NdimhleFckedUpTho (@JackDevero) May 13, 2015
If you go to a doctor ekasi and he suggests that you eat an EIPLE everyday, is it ok to panic abit? #AskMmusi
— #NdimhleFckedUpTho (@JackDevero) May 13, 2015
LOL! RT @Jika_Uthi: Why is a piano player called a pianist but a racer is not called a racist? Is the DA behind this? #AskMmusi"
— Mo (@_ndli) May 13, 2015
very Important QuestIon "@SizweDhlomo: 
— IsayNOtoXenophobia (@ArcadiaT) May 13, 2015
If a Roman walks into a bar in Cape Town and holds up 2 fingers, does he get 2 or 5 beers? @MmusiMaimane #AskMmusi
— BraaiBoy (@BraaiBoy) May 13, 2015
Loool "@MiniBengz: “@JoeyDrumzSA: How many puppets are in this picture? #AskMmusi pic.twitter.com/hLjcb8gl8Y” 
— Tebo (@BuddyTebza) May 13, 2015
why does the alphabet song have the same tune as twinkle-twinkle little star? #AskMmusi
(answer the damn q if you sang it out loud)
— Ricky Kuzco (@kuzco890) May 13, 2015
— •Shibabadu Shibabu✌• (@LadyMiss_Tinsi) May 13, 2015
Why do I find watching this lady walking to the shop more interesting than studying? #AskMmusi should I close the door or nah?
— Taryne Julie (@TaryneJulie) May 13, 2015
What ia the most electrifying move in sports entertainment? A) Rock Bottom B) People's Elbow? #AskMmusi
— Simanye Rulashe (@SimaRulz) May 13, 2015
Dress blue or white ? #AskMmusi @MmusiMaimane pic.twitter.com/YhFhCplghS
— Esethu (@EsethuHasane) May 13, 2015
To be fair Maimane, did try and engage with the questions as best he could, even the more inane ones:
Holding the President accountable does not equate to hating him. #AskMmusi https://t.co/B6T2lXNxVG
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) May 13, 2015
I have written to the Speaker requesting that the Police Min report be tabled, so the Pres can pay.We will make sure https://t.co/VINMBsjvU4
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) May 13, 2015
We don't mobilise on the basis of race. Our values of Freedom, Fairness, Opportunity are central to the DA #AskMmusi https://t.co/2xR23CJlaQ
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) May 13, 2015
We need to invest in sports development and better school programmes. #AskMmusi https://t.co/y8EZq62WqT
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) May 13, 2015
I've worked hard to get where I am. The puppet and token insults are manufactured by a very desearate ANC. #AskMmusi https://t.co/hUE9ERIKht
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) May 13, 2015
