MEDIA STATEMENT

Pretoria, 9 July 2021: The Department of Social Development condemns, with utter disgust, the photoshopped images of Minister Lindiwe Zulu being circulated on social media platforms. The Department is aware of a manipulated image of Minister Zulu participating in a virtual National Memorial Service of the late former President of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda.

The National Memorial Service, of which Minister Zulu was the official Programme Director, was held yesterday - Thursday 8 July 2021 and was hosted by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. In the original image, Minister Nathi Mthethwa appears on the screen of the gadget from which Minister Zulu was connected.

This type of malicious content is created with the express sole intent to cast public aspersion and assassinate the personal and political character of Minister Zulu. 

We condemn such malicious actions in the strongest possible terms. 

Minister Zulu will not be distracted from her core mandate of serving the vulnerable and the poor by this malicious campaign, particularly in the midst of the third wave of the global COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging the country.

In the era of fake news, the Department urges members of the public to be vigilant and verify sources of information they read before sharing it on social media platforms.

ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Media enquiries may be directed to Ms Lumka Oliphant on 083 484 8067/ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.