Former ANC MP Makhosi Khoza, who has been a fearless critic of corruption in government today quit the party. Twitter could not deal. The Daily Vox rounds up.
On Thursday morning, Khoza who has been increasingly sidelined at parliament following her outspoken criticism of President Jacob Zuma and the decline of the ruling party, held a press briefing at Lilliesleaf Farm. It was anticipated that she would be making a very important announcement.
#MakhosiKhoza Starts her briefing at Lilliesleaf in Johannesburg. She’s expected to make an important announcement today pic.twitter.com/SnZ2KKkCWI
— Dineo Bendile (@DineoBendile) September 21, 2017
Khoza took a while to get started but when she copped to leaving the ANC, Twitter damn near lost its mind.
#MakhosiKhoza has left the African National Congress
— #POWERPerspective (@Perspectivians) September 21, 2017
Khoza said it was depressing being in an ANC with so many corrupt people.
#MakhosiKhoza "The new alien and corrupt ANC cannot self-correct. If they claim they can this is delusional" SM
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) September 21, 2017
She said she did not know the ANC any more and that she had to free herself from the corruption of the party. She used the words “alien†and “corrupt†several times.
#MakhosiKhoza Now with a heavy heart that I have to say, it's no longer the anc I know, its alien and corrupt …. I want to free myself.
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) September 21, 2017
And then she got really colourful, saying it was her well-considered view that “almost 80 to 90% of ANC leaders would have to replace their suits and dresses with orange overalls†and that “their natural home will be prisonâ€.
Khoza said she would not be joining the DA or starting her own party, unlike some other former ANC members.
#MakhosiKhoza quits ANC, saying she's decided to longer tap dance with the hyenas but won't be starting her own party nor wearing DA blue.
— Mail & Guardian (@mailandguardian) September 21, 2017
But many on Twitter were not hearing it.
#ANC MP #MakhosiKhoza quits the ANC…what's next? Will she perhaps join another party, start a movement?
— Patricia Visagie (@Patrweezy) September 21, 2017
ANC think they've made it in life…hope #MakhosiKhoza is snatched by another political party and put back in parliament
— Lisa Maseko Nkosi (@Lisa_Maseko) September 21, 2017
Opposition party members, including the DA’s Mmusi Maimane and the EFF’s Mbuyiseni Ndlozi were quick to put in their two cents.
What #MakhosiKhoza is saying here, is that the Anc is patronage corrupt organization. It is dead, we need a new beginning. https://t.co/bxPxjsVhw1
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) September 21, 2017
With ANC you either quit due to corruption. Or you get expelled due to corruption. Or you get killed due to corruption. #MakhosiKhoza
— IG: @MbuyiseniNdlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) September 21, 2017
Khoza said she is now on a mission to save South Africa and the ANC.
#MakhosiKhoza: I am taking with me the good ANC I know. I am inviting all comrades of honour to join the crusade to save SA and the ANC
— POWER987News (@POWER987News) September 21, 2017
There were some suggestions for how she could do that: like join Black Twitter.
On behalf of Black Twitter I would like to put it on record that Dr Makhosi Khoza is welcome to join Black Twitter. #MakhosiKhoza pic.twitter.com/UyMW0hI3il
— IG @AdvBarryRoux (@AdvBarryRoux) September 21, 2017
Many applauded her decision as brave.
Wise move my #MakhosiKhoza. We have been waiting for this day ever since you told the truth and the #ANC made a scene.#CountryDuty pic.twitter.com/1fQVSER30l
— ImNotaLimitedEdition (@KgasuThapeli) September 21, 2017
#MakhosiKhoza: "I want to say goodbye to the new alien and corrupt ANC," she says as she leaves @MYANC pic.twitter.com/FfX6zOqVO0
— Rofhiwa Madzena (@rmadzena) September 21, 2017
Great News 🤣🤣🤣Makhosi Khoza officially resigns from @MYANC #makhosikhoza ðŸ‘ðŸ‘👠pic.twitter.com/PbYiV2VGkH
— Sizwe Bebe Mabaso (@BebeSizwe) September 21, 2017
#MakhosiKhoza "I'm out y'all corrupt snitches!" Now heads are REALLY gonna roll. pic.twitter.com/Mfsm3YZPjP
— edzip (@edzipp) September 21, 2017
#MakhosiKhoza pic.twitter.com/JBLEBgQLlp
— Elias Mach🔠(@machabaphala22) September 21, 2017
Others appeared to mourn the fact that the ANC was losing such a principled member.
BREAKING NEWS: Makhosi Khoza officially resigns from the ANC pic.twitter.com/MCfszGGn6F
— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) September 21, 2017
As we wait to see which anti-corruption organisation she chooses to join, we applaud Khoza for her principled stance against corruption and poor governance, and for standing firm against corruption and poor governance despite the death threats and the ridicule of party members in parliament.