The EFF has long been the ruling party of Twitter, marketing itself well to the youth on the platform. One need only look at followers to recognise the popularity: leader Julius Malema has over 1.5-million followers, as opposed to DA leader Mmusi Maimane’s 646 000, and President Jacob Zuma’s 429 000.
It’s thus no surprise how often the party trends nationally, but it’s not always positive.
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Thursday morning, #EFFFacts was trending in third place, ostensibly coined to make fun of everything for which the party gets credited. The first tweet seems to have come from user @bslekgoathi1.
“Did you know that EFF members are the producers of sista bethina? [sic],” they wrote.
Did you know that EFF members are the producers of sista bethina?#EFFFacts
— sweeter (@bslekgoathi1) August 23, 2017
Others picked up the tag with the same tongue-in-cheek humour of the first.
The EFF plotted the assassination of JFK in the 1950s. #EFFFacts
— Last of the Mohicans (@ibadaan) August 23, 2017
Fact is EFF changed the ‘face’ of South African politics since its establishment #EFFFacts
— Nonkanyiso Nombewu (@nonkanyiso_16) August 23, 2017
But some users employed the hashtag with more positive outlooks.
EFF the only political party which makes sense in nowdays
#EFFFacts — Zuko Ntlakaza (@NtlakazaZuko) August 24, 2017
It eventually became a war of sincerity vs sarcasm — though in terms of numbers, sincerity was losing dramatically.
“It was actually the EFF fighters who built Robben Island from scratch,” wrote one user.
When Noah’s Ark was built the EFF fought for Radical Animal Transformation, after which Zebras and Lions from Africa were allowed #EFFFACTS
— Brigadier General (@ChiefExo) August 23, 2017
It was actually the EFF fighters who built Roben Island from scratch. #EFFFacts
— Ncagu Mntungwa IV (@The_Kayda) August 23, 2017
Julius Malema was the first person to warn South Africa about Mabala Noise. #EFFFacts
— IG @AdvBarryRoux (@AdvBarryRoux) August 23, 2017
“EFF is the only hope for poverty eradication,” wrote user @JimmyNtshebele1.
Eff is the only last hope for poverty eradication #EFFfacts
— Mastie_SA (@JimmyNtshebele1) August 23, 2017
It is the only party that made the youth of SA to be interested in politics and higher level education #EFFFacts
— Malebo_Mokone (@malebo9) August 23, 2017
#EFFFacts.is the only party which ensures that there is no more sleeping in Parliament
— Happy Mashimbyi (@HappyMashimbyi2) August 24, 2017
No official EFF account has picked up on the trend yet, though it’s sure to be interesting when they do.
Featured image: GovernmentZA via Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0, edited)
