Under normal circumstances, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane is not exactly a social media darling.
This is because social media is often dominated by “woke” users from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) or the “radical economic transformation” (RET) wing of the African National Congress (ANC).
However, in the wake of the CR17 campaign controversy bedevilling President Cyril Ramaphosa, Maimane has suddenly attained a hero status among these groups.
Twitter is now awash with Maimane “appreciation tweets” as tribute to him for posing the infamous Bosasa question to Ramaphosa in Parliament last year.
It’s that question that led to Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s investigation into the CR17 campaign.
Needless to say, the matter has reached a whole new level of isiphithiphithi (chaos) for the president.
Anti-Ramaphosa critics now praise Maimane for sparking it all.
Appreciation tweet: Mmusi Maimane singlehandedly collapsed a country by asking 1 question in parly; after that it’s been downhill for everyone who’s in politics.
Twitter user @thahmthiane
Dear Africans, we can no longer pretend all is well. We need to hold our leaders accountable.
They are in the Parliament because of us & they must represent us, not be against us.
You may not like Hon Mmusi Maimane but we are here today because of his Golden question
@zwanethereal
Maimane seems to be aware of his newfound hero status on Twitter and is riding on it.
In a tweet he posted on Wednesday, he said he’s planning to ask Ramaphosa even more difficult questions in Parliament on Thursday.
Bagaetsho I asked A QUESTION to the President, the rest is history. I’m asking Pres Ramaphosa questions in parliament tomorrow.
We need a President who will give facts not obfuscations that cause isipithipithi. Parliament holds him to account, so we need to get to the facts.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane
And the DA leader is getting plenty of encouragement from Twitter users. Thursday, please come forth quick! Parliament will be lit.