#HandsOffZuma vs #ZilleMustGo: a hashtag war is brewing on Twitter

jacob-zuma-governmentza-flickr #handsoffzuma twitter #guptaemails
President Jacob Zuma during a press briefing after a meeting with the National Planning Commission at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. South Africa. 03/07/2013

Social media users might seem to travel altogether in fast-flowing streams and strong currents, but that’s rarely ever the case.

While there are more than a few hashtags supporting the countrywide protest action in South Africa today against President Jacob Zuma, a new hashtag has emerged that is supporting the current president.

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Memeburn’s #AntiZumaMarches coverage:

#HandsOffZuma is one such trending counter-hashtags to emerge today. It appeared on Twitter today around 12pm SAST, soon after the ANCYL led a march in Durban’s CBD.

A number of used also employed the tag in their tweets of support towards President Jacob Zuma.

#HandsOffZuma is the most prominent counter-hashtag to today’s countrywide protests

One user tweeted suggest that the protests focussed on “white minority holding on to their ill gotten riches”.

As another counter to the #AntiZumaMarches and #ZumaMustFall hashtags, #ZilleMustGo also began trending on the social network, calling for the Western Cape Premier Helen Zille’s sacking after comments about colonialism.

The hashtag was first used in late March.

Marches across South Africa continue at the time of writing.

Feature image: GovernmentZA via Flickr (CC 2.0, resized)

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