Read on Twitter
On Friday there was a "spontaneous" protest outside (and inside) a FNB branch in Cape Town. It was publicised by some pictures included in tweets with the hashtag "RacistBanksMustFall".
What was it all about? A thread...
What was it all about? A thread...
The hashtag was trending on Friday. Which is interesting, considering that the actual protest looked tiny, maybe 15 or twenty people.
So, what is going on here? What is this all about and why is there so much activity on Twitter? First, let's see whether that hashtag has been used before and in what context. And it turns out, it was first used in August 2020 in connection with an equality court hearing.
There were a number of tweets about the banks and certain cases where black clients were poorly treated, but there wasn't a huge volume around the hashtag after the initial day for the rest of 2020.
The chart shows tweets per day using the hashtag.
The chart shows tweets per day using the hashtag.
So it doesn't seem likely that it is the same issue. So let's see where the hashtag gets traction in 2021.
This guy tweets about it A LOT. Mostly with stuff around Emerald van Zyl's crusade.
Most of the stuff from the account is RET propaganda, and this bank stuff doesn't trend
This guy tweets about it A LOT. Mostly with stuff around Emerald van Zyl's crusade.
Most of the stuff from the account is RET propaganda, and this bank stuff doesn't trend
This chart shows the activity per day in 2021. Most of the stuff before March 2021 is that single RET account, and it hardly shows up in the chart.
Then there is a bump at the beginning of April...
At the end of March, there're thesetweets , but not much traction. So unlikely that they are the reason for the bump.
At the end of March, there're thesetweets , but not much traction. So unlikely that they are the reason for the bump.
I doubt it's even this one by an RET promo acount that quotes someone else's tweet which includes (and I'm not making this up), a picture of a billboard displaying an Ayn Rand quote. RET accounts don't manage irony very well.
But then, bingo, a tweet that has some traction!
(sorry for inconsistent tweet colouring, I have to use another browser because I'm blocked by this account)
(sorry for inconsistent tweet colouring, I have to use another browser because I'm blocked by this account)
What could this be about? And who is this person?Well, here is some background:
First the context. https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/absa-does-a-gupta-on-iqbal-surve-cuts-all-ties-20210401
First the context. https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/absa-does-a-gupta-on-iqbal-surve-cuts-all-ties-20210401
Then the author:
Modibe is a sometimes-journalist, who had a run-in with Daily Maverick last year. As far as I'm aware they're still trying to track him down to serve legal papers for defamation. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-03-11-unpacking-the-single-sourced-accusations-against-daily-maverick-published-in-iqbal-surve-owned-media/
Modibe is a sometimes-journalist, who had a run-in with Daily Maverick last year. As far as I'm aware they're still trying to track him down to serve legal papers for defamation. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-03-11-unpacking-the-single-sourced-accusations-against-daily-maverick-published-in-iqbal-surve-owned-media/
He is somehow connected to Independent Media, I'm not sure if he's on their payroll or just an opinion columnist, but he's also the co-creator of the Insight Factor: a youtube channel that gives a platform to such luminaries as Lucky Montana, Carl Niehaus and John Hlophe.
Whatever his affiliation he is very upset about ABSA closing AYO technology's bank accounts.
It didn't take long for the RET influencer accounts to jump on the bandwagon.
So we know the source for the first wave in early April. It looks like some annoyed Survé supporters brandishing the race card because ABSA announced that they're closing accounts.
But why the huge spike later on in April?
Stay tuned for episode 2..../
But why the huge spike later on in April?
Stay tuned for episode 2..../
Episode 2. RacistBanksMustFall
Story so far: Early April saw some complaints that the ABSA bank discontinuation of some Survé organisations' bank accounts were racist. The main source? A controversial journalist seemingly affiliated with Independent Media.
Story so far: Early April saw some complaints that the ABSA bank discontinuation of some Survé organisations' bank accounts were racist. The main source? A controversial journalist seemingly affiliated with Independent Media.
After the activity early in April, the hashtag goes quiet until the 15th of April.
There's little doubt as to why...
There's little doubt as to why...
Here are two sources on the same story:
https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/companies/ayo-battles-fnb-in-court-over-discrimination-6e926e6e-e48d-4de3-a582-111e879fbe27 https://www.news24.com/fin24/Companies/fnb-joins-absa-in-closing-surve-linked-it-company-ayos-accounts-20210415
https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/companies/ayo-battles-fnb-in-court-over-discrimination-6e926e6e-e48d-4de3-a582-111e879fbe27 https://www.news24.com/fin24/Companies/fnb-joins-absa-in-closing-surve-linked-it-company-ayos-accounts-20210415
There are seven original tweets about this on the 15th April by two accounts but with next to no retweets or likes.
There's pretty much no action on the hashtag... but...
There's pretty much no action on the hashtag... but...
For two days a few RET-affiliated accounts tweet amongst themselves but again no real traction on the hashtag. Then this starts on the 23rd April:
https://twitter.com/danielmarven/status/1385545410073214977
https://twitter.com/danielmarven/status/1385545410073214977
If you're unaware, the "Daniel Marven" account is a paid twitter follow-train influencer account.
There are 5 tweets in 5 minutes from the account.
There are 5 tweets in 5 minutes from the account.
And then... six minutes later, the money tweet:
A minute later, another "paid influencer account" tweets..
Suddenly we have a whole bunch of accounts with following over 15000 tweeting very similar things in a period of minutes.
Then there's this... (which quotes a tweet that I missed)
So we have a tweet from iol, with two hashtags...
hmmm...
hmmm...
HandsoffAYO isn't as widespread as the other hashtag but it ORIGINATES with iol.
Plus we have one of the OG RET influencers using it.
Plus we have one of the OG RET influencers using it.
So, what have we got here?
A very small protest being hyped by a "journalist" and a bunch of paid influencers on twitter.
A very small protest being hyped by a "journalist" and a bunch of paid influencers on twitter.
Oh, just in case you don't think that this was paid activity...
Also, if you're not convinced that there was some connection between the "protest" and the social media activity...
So, if we add the activity of the two hashtags together, and look at the network of tweets, what does it look like?
Conclusion: There is a massive presence of paid influencers driving a message that the banks are racist using hashtags and memes created by either Independent Media/Sekunjalo or people associated with them. Connect your own dots
Recognise any of the protestors? DM me.
Recognise any of the protestors? DM me.
Addendum: Somebody has passed this screenshot of a Whatsapp message to me. I'm not in the media so I didn't get it and can't vouch for it. Any journos get it?
Addendum 2. If that whatsapp screenshot is true, somebody does need to let COSAS know that there is more than one FNB branch in Cape Town.
Addendum 3. Here's iol's version:
https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/companies/cape-town-youth-protest-against-racist-banks-0c2689b3-df1c-46fc-b433-f43a9f507846
Their editor needs to stop burying the lede.
https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/companies/cape-town-youth-protest-against-racist-banks-0c2689b3-df1c-46fc-b433-f43a9f507846
Their editor needs to stop burying the lede.
