During the Springboks’ nail-biting RWC semi-final yesterday, a pal forwarded a WhatsApp message stating the DA’s recent defectors had created the “Liberation Party of SA”, LIPSA for short. Herman Mashaba was named as LIPSA’s national chairperson, Lindiwe Mazibuko president, Mmusi Maimane vice president and Athol Trollip secretary general.
Two other political personalities, Mbhazima Shilowa and Gwen Ngwenya were also named as LIPSA office bearers. Juicy story. And one that seemed almost plausible for me because on my Friday evening flight home from London, someone who looked very similar to Mazibuko was a fellow passenger. Perhaps she was heading for the LIPSA presser?
Except she wasn’t because it was all fake news. Confirmed by Mashaba who texted me last night saying it’s “pure nonsense”. Something supported by a google search for LIPSA which brings up a political party of this name, but notes it was registered in February 2014 and failed to raise enough cash to actually contest SA’s General Election of that year.
In his tell-all book Trust Me I’m Lying, ace manipulator Ryan Holiday refers to our collective media diet “transformed into junk food – fake stories engineered by people like me to be consumed and passed around.” The only way to stop this is to break the chain. So, next time an unsubstantiated message arrives, best check it out before hitting the forward button.
Comment from Biznews community member Lionel Greenberg:
Hi Alec
Trust you areĀ well.
Here is my take on the DA resignations, itās the best thing to have happened.
GOING FORWARD
From my personal perspective I think Herman, Mmusi and others will start another party that will appeal to a different segment of the community.
This party won’t start from the perspective of being tainted or have any deficits. The DA appeals to whites and the middle class who have political maturity.
Reality is the DA will remain stigmatised for years to come because that is how the ANC and EFF sell against the DA. It purely with race card, intimidation/fear.
This ‘new party’ will appeal to ANC voters who remain brainwashed that the DA is a white party and will bring back apartheid. It will take too long to educate the ‘political immature’.
NEW PARTY
The ‘new party’s’ objective must be to weaken ANC strong hold to successfully break the majority rule narrative.
Herman and Mmusi needed to earn credibility with prospective voters even though it was ‘at the expense’ of the DA. Our poor performance was reflected in 2019 results of which one was the narrative the DA is a white party.
We will never know Herman and Mmusi strategic game plan – perhaps the latest development was orchestrated?
Sadly the DA don’t understand the ANC is a war machine and it plays dirty at every level of society. The DA don’t operate from a covert mentality.
Most of all nobody is indispensable and the DA must continue to promote its core values and service its voters as it did in 2016. The DA are not here for people who free load and can’t allow ourselves to buy votes. As there are many car brands you either like our brand or you simply go elsewhere.
If I have speculated correctly maybe I have a smart EQĀ Ā – else letās see what happens.
