WhatsApp used to plan riots in South Africa — Report
The masterminds behind widespread looting, arson, and public violence in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng over the last few days used WhatsApp and Telegram to organise attacks on trucks, highways, and businesses.
This is according to senior ANC and intelligence sources who spoke to The Daily Maverick on the condition of anonymity.
The sources said the twelve ringleaders identified by security intelligence officials suspected of being behind the unrest used social media to set their carefully planned attacks into motion.
During the special ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Monday, which was focused on addressing the unrest, WhatsApp and Telegram messages which appear to show a coordinated effort to carry out the violent attacks, were discussed.
These messages are now being analysed by security intelligence officials who have set their sights on catching the instigators, the Daily Maverick reported.
Screenshots of the messages, which were posted on an “eThekweni Shutdown” WhatsApp group, have been shared on Facebook.
The first point of focus for the instigators was the torching of trucks and blocking major roads and highways around Durban, Pietermaritzburg, and various spots along the N3.
According to The Daily Maverick, this was organised by renegade MK groups who were active in the truck transport sector and have campaigned against foreign truck drivers for some time.
These groups have been blamed for arson attacks on trucks driven by foreigners over the past three years.
Following the truck attacks, the masterminds veered their attention to institutions regarded to be controlled by “white monopoly capital”.
This buzzword first came to the fore in the Bell Pottinger disinformation campaign paid for by the Gupta family paint them as victims of systemic racism.
On the WhatsApp group, members called for attacks on, among others, Shoprite, Pick ‘n Pay, Woolworths, several banks, and fuel stations.
One of the three types of harmful messages defined by the Act is the incitement of damage to property or violence.
A message which incites damage to property or violence applies to any person who discloses, through an electronic communications service, a data message to a person, group of persons or the general public to incite the causing of any damage to property belonging to or violence against a person or a group of persons.
The Cybercrimes Act defines “violence” as bodily harm and “damage to property” as damage to any corporeal or incorporeal property. Punishment if found guilty can include up to three years imprisonment and a fine.
In other news – Former Bafana Bafana star Reneilwe Letsholonyane lays his father to rest
Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane has laid his grandfather to rest. He shared pictures from the funeral service and added that the burial was fitting for his dad given the circumstances around the country.
His grandfather, who he often referred to as Papa was a hundred and three years old, had eleven children, thirty-seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Learn more
Source: mybroadband
