Media personality turned spokesperson to minister Nathi Mthethwa, Masechaba Ndlovu has had to issue an apology after mistakenly tweeting that South African people are dying from coronavirus.
“The message is unambiguous. People must listen to what the president has said. There is no ‘if’ or ‘maybe,’ people are dying. The death toll was at 64 yesterday, we now stand at 116. – Minister @NathiMthethwaSA #OneMessageManyVoices” tweeted Ndlovu.
Newly appointed spokesperson Masechaba Ndlovu has left Mzansi Twitter shocked after she tweeted that 64 people had died from the coronavirus in South Africa.
Ndlovu had erreoneusly tweeted about a 'death toll', when she infact meant to refer to confirmed coronavirus infections within South Africa's borders.
Ndlovu tweeted on Wednesday morning: The message is unambiguous. People must listen to what the president has said. There is no ‘maybe’, people are dying. The death toll was at 64 yesterday, we now stand at 116”.
She later deleted the tweet and clarified that she had been referring to infections and not deaths. There have been no coronavirus-related deaths in South Africa.
Meanwhile, the twitterati were quick to latch onto Ndlovu's error after some raised questions about her appointment last week.
She has been criticsed in the past for comments she has made about abuse against women. Some users used her error to point at her supposed incompetence as the spokesperson for the minister.
She quickly corrected her earlier tweet: “To clarify, the number of people infected with #CoronaVirusSA now stands at 116". Thank you Twitter family. Let's continue to take the necessary measures to curb the spread of this Virus. My apologies for giving you a fright.”
To clarify, "the number of people infected with #CoronaVirusSA now stands at 116". Thank you Twitter family. Let's continue to take the necessary measures to curb the spread of this Virus. My apologies for giving you a fright.
— Masechaba Khumalo 🇿🇦 (@MasechabaNdlovu) March 18, 2020
Some users called for her to be suspended, while others noted that she had made an honest mistake.
Just what if Masechaba didn’t make a mistake, what if she actually spoke the truth by mistake and we are being told it’s just case of #COVID19SouthAfrica whereas it’s real deaths #ConspiracyTheories yes, no, Maybe?…
— ZuluSouthAfrican 🕗 (@darealRex1) March 18, 2020
What if Masechaba just revealed a state secret? and the follow up tweet is a cover-up?
— Cousama O3 (@CousamaO3) March 18, 2020
Masechaba Ndlovu is already at work!Nathi Mthethwa must be proud! The message is unambiguous! #COVID19SouthAfrica #CoronaVirusSA pic.twitter.com/aaj78IyrcW
— ActorVist (@mashoodoZ) March 18, 2020
Honestly, these are grounds for immediate suspension. There is absolutely no reason for you to be tweeting so recklessly when people are already scared.
Who sent you? Aren’t you spokesperson for arts and culture? Who, at DOH, sent you Masechaba? https://t.co/uVShdq7WxL
— HCE Volunteer💉 (@M_sankie) March 18, 2020
Masechaba counting the death toll… pic.twitter.com/lM5E3VyZ7o
— Sithethelele (@Sithethelele_4) March 18, 2020
Let's not forget that Masechaba Ndlovu is working with minister of condolences Nathi Mthethwa. So Masechaba probably just wanted to send condolences as well 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 pic.twitter.com/iEbmsG4eJJ
— Hayi Suxoka!! (@aphelelejody) March 18, 2020
Masechaba made a mistake, like we all do. She recognized that and apologized. Move on.
— #JusticeforNathanielJulies (@Bathandwa95) March 18, 2020
Ndlovu made the mistake while live-tweeting through a radio interview the minister had on SAFM with Sakina Kamwendo to clarify how the gathering restrictions of 100 people per event would be enforced, especially for upcoming funerals and weddings from this weekend onwards.
– Citizen
