Ayanda Dlodlo Did NOT Call Cape Town a Country, Condemns Insensitive Fake News

JOHANNESBURG – The Minister of Home Affairs, Ayanda Dlodlo has today – 22 January 2018 – reacted with outrage towards a fake news article that was published on two websites and shared furiously on social media since Saturday evening. The article is headed with a “contemptuous” headline, saying: “South Africans living in other countries like Cape Town must come back home in order for us to be able to help them, Reveals Ayanda Dlodlo”.

In a media statement on Monday, the Department of Home Affairs said Minister Dlodlo is especially disturbed by this insensitive fake news because on the day she is said to have made these statements, she was mourning and burying her brother who passed on a few days earlier.

The article – which was published identically on two fake/gossip sites – claimed:

“Speaking in Pretoria on Thursday morning, Dlodlo said… even if the South African government is willing to assist, its hands are tired [sic] because the South African government can only help its people if they are here in the country.

“South Africans living in other countries like Cape Town must come back home in order for us to be able to help them. We have all the water they will ever need here in South Africa. So, they must leave Cape Town and come back home.” Dlodlo said.

It is not clear if Dlodlo is aware that Cape Town is in South Africa. We could not reach her to find out. Story developing…

“Contrary to what was claimed by the author, one Jade Wilsons, there was never an attempt to reach the Minister nor her office. The article ends by saying “story developing”. There is no story as the Minister has made no public appearances since the passing of her brother and therefore no story exists.”

DHA says: “The phenomenon of fake news is a global problem that contaminates genuine news and the information highway and members of the public should be wary of these sites… and check their sources carefully because thousands of fake sites sprout out every day to mislead the unsuspecting public.”

The article in question has already attracted over 21,000 gullible readers (and that’s just those who shared it) which is shocking in today’s age when people are aware that there is fake news out there. Please, if ever you are unsure, send an article to us at admin@sapeople.com to check for you first. (Many people did do so over the weekend.)

Sites like the two which published the malicious lie are usually motivated by greed to attract advertising revenue with outrageous stories, or a political agenda to discredit a certain group of people or political party. Whatever their motive, their fake stories damage nation building efforts and spread lies.

Minister Dlodlo said it’s a pity some people have taken advantage of the information age we live in “to further their nefarious agendas”.

Sadly while thousands of social media users were quick to spread the fake news, there’s not as much of a rush to spread the truth!