The inaugural social media blackout was held on Wednesday, June 21. This was the first of many Wednesdays to come, where we the people, stay away from social media in protest. Our goal: To force the big cellphone mobile network service providers in this our land, to drop the prices of data.
On Wednesday, many comrades were steadfast in their protest and stayed away from the main platform of this discussion -- Twitter. But lo and behold, when Thursday came we were sad to find out that our blackout was a top trend on a day we had vowed to shut down social media. The traitors, in all their glory, showed up on the network under various guises. Some declared they would be the guardians of the movement, keeping watch at the gates to see who would betray the movement.
The agents of Country Duty, led by their commander-in-chief, Tumi Sole, claimed to support the movement in principle.
Dear #SocialMediaBlackout
In line with sphithiphithi in Mzansi, we supported you in principle.
We had 2 #countryDutypic.twitter.com/2eWn5QVl7w
— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) June 21, 2017
This isn't selling out. We have a country up for sale so the soldiers on this tag are on urgent watch. pic.twitter.com/vey5lqsPxP
— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) June 21, 2017
There is evidence, however, that it seems some used Country Duty as an excuse for their betrayal.
Commander Ashley Yashani Dorothy reporting for #CountryDuty during the #SocialMediaBlackout 😄 pic.twitter.com/hWPIgkhYtC
— Ashley Dorothy (@Ashley_Dorothy) June 20, 2017
Let it be known that jokes made by these agents of Country Duty and their other comrades have been noted.
Apparently #socialmediablackout and Cope's mobilization to block Molefe from getting into Eskom gates when he was reinstated ... pic.twitter.com/4U6jxiL7pv
— Yusuf Peer (@YusufPeer1) June 21, 2017
It was noted with dismay, that even the police minister, Fikile Mbalula, was part of the sell-out faction. He, too, claimed his participation on social media was for the good of the movement and the country at large.
I can report #SocialMediaBlackout was peaceful, there was no looting and stealing of tweets, no damages on the TL and Mention vandalism.
— RSA Police Minister (@MbalulaFikile) June 21, 2017
The Social Media Blackout movement, however, knows better than to believe this. Even Telkom made an attempt to derail the movement.
The movement is grateful to those who supported and heeded the call. The data prices will fall, bazalwane. And remember, the anti-revolutionaries will always be a part of the struggle towards emancipation.