South Africa

South Africa

The Gathering – Media Edition: BLF fuelled by Molefe

The Gathering – Media Edition: BLF fuelled by Molefe

Driving in a flashy red Audi owned by ousted Eskom CEO Brian Molefe, five members of the Gupta beholden Black Land First (BLF) rocked up at the Daily Maverick’s The Gathering: Media Edition on Thursday morning. “F*ck off, you motherf*cking white b*tch,” said the “broke” Andile Mngxitama when Scorpio asked questions about the car and who paid BLF’s air fare. So the motherf*cking white b*tch poked around. This is what she found. BY PAULI VAN WYK

The red Audi seems to have been gifted by Brian Molefe to his son Itumeleng Molefe, a student at the University of Cape Town. Itumeleng is a longstanding friend of Lindsay Maasdorp and BLF leader Andile Mngxitama – he was also one of the students arrested in February 2016 during the Fees Must Fall protests. Maasdorp confirmed that Itumeleng lent the car to BLF. “I’m his friend. Yes, he borrowed me the car. So go now, write your bullsh*t story and f*ck off,” Maasdorp said.

Daily Maverick journalists noticed five BLF members outside the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Thursday morning.

“Why are you taking photos,” one of the men shouted to journalists at the time.

Maasdorp and Mngxitama are cut from the same cloth when it comes to using profanities when the questions get uncomfortable.

Photo: Andile Mngxitama shouts at journalists and security personnel at the Cape Town International Conference Centre where The Gathering – Media Edition was underway on Thursday, August 3 2017. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks (Groundup)

Mngxitama has defended ever more vigorously the “rights” of the beleaguered Gupta family since the #GuptaLeaks were revealed in the media.

He has relentlessly denied receiving any money from the Guptas, even after an email suggested Mngxitama had met with the family and had taken instructions from them [link].

During a 10 minute telephone conversation starting at 12:49 on Thursday afternoon, Mngxitama asked why Scorpio phoned him when he wasn’t allowed to enter The Gathering: Media Edition.

When Scorpio mentioned that it might be problematic if the Guptas paid for their airfare and vehicle, Mngxitama exploded.

“F*cking f*cker white b*tch, show me the proof of what you’re saying,” Mngxitama shouted.

Scorpio has no proof that the Guptas paid for BLF’s airfare, nor the vehicle. Mngxitama didn’t confirm, nor deny the statement put to him. But three different and unconnected sources confirmed that the red Audi belongs to ousted Eskom CEO Brian Molefe. Scorpio has seen documentary evidence to this effect provided by two of our sources. Neither Brian nor his son Itumeleng answered their phones or reacted to whatsapp messages.

“You are writing lies about us, you are targeting us because we are black. Now f*ck off, you motherf*cking white b*tch,” Mngxitama yelled before disconnecting the phone line after becoming hoarse from shouting.

Mngxitama and his BLF comrades bought five tickets to attend Thursday’s Daily Maverick event in Cape Town. They tried to acquire a sixth ticket, but were refused entrance. Daily Maverick management instructed security at the Cape Town International Convention Centre not to allow BLF entry.

In July BLF disrupted an amaBhungane event held in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, to the point that the event had to be stopped for fear of their violent behaviour. DM

Photo: The vehicle registered to former Eskom CEO, Brian Molefe that members of Black First Land First left the Cape Town International Conference Centre where The Gathering – Media Edition was underway on Thursday, August 3 2017. Photo: Leila Dougan

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