by Herman Manson (@marklives) We share some April Fool’s highlights from around the South African web. The mood seems to be somewhat subdued — understandable, given the economic and political crisis the country is facing — the Daily Maverick went as far as cancelling April Fool’s as it “couldn’t come up with anything half as mad as SA reality today.”
There were some valiant efforts: IOL is freaking out cyclists with annual roadworthy tests for their bikes while TechCentral is reporting that is President Zuma is splitting the department of telecommunications & postal services into two separate departments with immediate effect. TimesLive is running a story on President Zuma studying for a BCom degree in a bid to hit back at political rival Julius Malema‚ who graduated with a BA from Unisa this week.
Daily Maverick: Cancelled: April Fools’ Day 2016
IOL: Licences for bicycle riders and their bikes
To ensure that all bicycles are roadworthy, bicycles will be subject to an annual roadworthy test and then licensed accordingly, the portfolio committee on road safety and security said. It is intended that every bike in South Africa be registered. The committee has proposed an annual bicycle licence fee of R350.
Bicycle riders will also have to pass a bicycle rider test – adapted from the motor vehicle K53 driver’s test – to qualify for a bicycle driver’s licence. The licence would be valid for three years.
TimesLive: Zuma studies BCom‚ wants to outdo Malema
President Jacob Zuma is to do a BCom degree‚ apparently to hit back at political rival Julius Malema‚ who graduated with a BA from Unisa this week.
Zuma has enrolled at the little-known College of Uttar Pradesh‚ a correspondence university in India‚ and is expected to graduate by the end of this year.
MyBroadband: MyBroadband launches 1Gbps uncapped mobile broadband for R99 per month
MyBroadband is set to crush Vodacom and MTN with its new Warp Speed Mobile Internet service, which offers 1Gbps uncapped mobile broadband access through Li-Fi.
TechCentral: Zuma to split telecoms department – again
In a surprise move, Zuma has appointed Sahara Computers founder Atul Gupta as interim minister until a permanent appointment is made. Gupta, who will take the reins at the new ministry effective immediately, has been charged with fast-tracking the allocation of spectrum.
The ICT and fibre-optic affairs ministry, meanwhile, will be headed by short-lived finance minister Des van Rooyen, who moves across from co-operative governance & traditional affairs.
Faith Muthambi will continue as minister of communications, which still has oversight of the SABC and South Africa’s digital migration project.
Agency and Brand April Fool’s
Bain & Bunkell
Yuppiechef
Herman Manson (@marklives) is the founder and editor of MarkLives.com. He was the inaugural Vodacom Social Media Journalist of the Year in 2011 and has, over his 20-year-plus career, contributed to numerous journals and websites in South Africa and abroad, including AdVantage magazine, Men’s Health, Computer World and African Communications.
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