A twitter spat has broken out between EFF supporters and rapper AKA after his public declaration of support for the ANC.
|||Johannesburg - A twitter spat has broken out between EFF supporters and rapper AKA after his public declaration of support for the ANC.
The rapper tweeted that he was backing the ANC and would not perform at any opposition party rallies.
AKA, whose real name is Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, tweeted: “The ANC is faaaaar from perfect, but I firmly believe it’s the only political party with the credentials and policies to lead our country.”
In response to the reaction to his tweet, he later tweeted: “All this drama because I said I would no longer perform at opposition party events and because I am openly ANC.”
EFF leader Julius Malema then weighed in: “@akaworldwide chief, if you want a fight against the EFF just come openly we are ready for you. Why generalise instead of referring to one.”
In another tweet, he added: “Be specific because people will think there's a collective position against you by us, we have not arrived at that yet.”
Malema then laughed off any concern about AKA’s affiliation, tweeting: “@akaworldwide it’s ok, enjoy your freedom. We have nothing against you, just don't make the EFF your enemy, we don't care about your affiliation.”
EFF national spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi also entered the fray: “Okay here is a direct question to @akaworldwide are * saying to us * will no longer be performing at EFF events?”
Ndlozi urged AKA not to publicly declare political affiliations as this could isolate fans affiliated with other parties.
“I have no problem with @akaworldwide membership of ANC. I support the right to affiliate. But why boycott EFF when many fighters buy your music?” he asked.
AKA responded: “I would still like to know if the EFF national spokesperson can be considered leadership or not.”
Many of Forbes’s fans, including Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula and the ANC Western Cape, jumped to his defence, tweeting EFF should back off.
An AKA fan @ChiefExo posted: “If AKA doesn't want to perform at EFF events he doesn't have to provide an Orwellian explanation as to how he came to that decision.”
Another fan, @SESHIKA1, called the EFF’s response intimidation: “Intimidation by the EFF against a hallowed name @akaworldwide will not tolerated #HandOffAKA.”
Mbalula tweeted: “@akaworldwide should not be bullied for exercising his right, one that the Giants whose shoulders we stand on today fought for.”
The ANC Youth League in the Western Cape added: “He is unapologetic about his support and love for the ANC. So let us support him as well, vote for @Akaworldwide.”
EFF supporters, meanwhile, hit back at the rapper and vowed to back their leader.
“The fact is that @akaworldwide has declared @EFFSouthAfrica as the enemy we must treat that as it is, it's war!” tweeted Keith Sweatin.
Saturday Star