ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has come under fire from some for sharing his frustrations about missing things like football and sitting with friends during load-shedding
Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Times, Mbalula said he felt people’s frustration about rolling blackouts.
“I am expecting the ANC to be polling at 30%. The mood is not right, people are not happy about load-shedding. It is an inconvenience, I feel it myself. I've got simple things I like, like watching football and sitting with friends.
“In the middle of nowhere, everything comes to a standstill. We have improvised now. I normally don't sleep in hotels, I go to guest houses. Before I book I ask if there are means for lights and all of that. Before we didn't care about that because the lights were on.”
Mbalula said load-shedding was a “turn off” and he does not foresee the ANC polling well.
Many online accused Mbalula of “reducing” citizens' frustrations with load-shedding to watching football.
“Mbalula says he understands the frustration of voters because he can’t watch football and chill with Mdu Manana,” said Build One SA movement leader Mmusi Maimane.
“To get the real experience of South Africans, these ministers should forfeit their blue lights, generators, medical aid and they should send their children to quintile one public schools.
“It’s very clear they don’t get it. They don’t understand the pain everyone is going through. They will never fix a pain they do not feel.”
The way he reduces the whole thing to just watching football. What about the economy they are ruining, lives they are ruining?
— Tshomankane (@bouga2) June 5, 2023
Jobs are being lost daily. People who need oxygen are dying because power does return after load shedding. Crime escalated during load shedding. This minister, like all other ANC ministers is out of touch with reality or they just don’t care. Get rid of them in 2024.
— Lets Talk (@discussfreely2) June 5, 2023
We have youth unemployment, SOE’s under the ANC are bankrupt, education system is broken, health system has collapsed, influx of illegal emigrants and Mbalula is only frustrated cause he can’t watch football. ANC with zero accountability hence the mess we in.
— Nkosi (@houseofnkosi) June 5, 2023
He talks about simple things like watching football while people lose businesses, jobs, electrical appliances, food in the fridge etc and he talks about ‘simple’ things like watching football. Mxm.
— M (@RapitsiN) June 5, 2023
It had to be football😳😳, not the people who are dying in hospitals due to lack of oxygen, more crime due to darkness etc. Vampires love human blood 🩸 , the more ppl die the better for them.
— Malubane (@Malubane_Mhlabe) June 5, 2023
Our frustration has very little to do with watching football, but if that's what bothers him... Shame, in all senses of the word.
— Deeterbee (@Dida_21296) June 5, 2023
So only now he’s getting it, how interesting 🚮
— WallaceZithuleleNnie@79 (@Zi2lele79) June 6, 2023
The radical change in our country's status quo will be through the power of the Ballot! Only if there's no voter apathy in 2024 National Elections! Otherwise heading towards a pariah state!
— TeCos (@Tbg612) June 5, 2023
Calling loadshedding an inconvenience shows how disconnected Mbalula is from reality, ppl have lost their livelihood!
— Lou (@LowcustZA) June 6, 2023
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