Somizi Mary Twala Black Twitter

Somizi Mary Twala Black Twitter

Black Twitter drags Mohale and Somizi over weekend away

There’s never a dull moment on the South African social media streets and the tweeps are already criticising the couple for spending ‘insurance money’.

Somizi Mary Twala Black Twitter

Somizi Mary Twala Black Twitter

Over the weekend Twitter — and Black Twitter in particular — dragged Somizi Mhlongo and his husband Mohale Motaung-Mhlongo for supposedly spending “Avbob” money.

They assumed that Somizi’s late mother Mary Twala’s life cover paid out and the couple was already spending the money.  

This popped up after the couple posted pictures of themselves touching down in Durban.

Somizi had laid his mother to rest in a funeral only a few days before the “Mr & Mr” took their trip to Zimbali.

Insurance payout allegations

It may have started as a joke but it spread like wildfire and tweeps had a field day.

Mohale vs Black Twitter

Recently,  Mohale Motaung-Mhlongo also suffered on the timeline. He had asked for South Africans to keep him and his husband in prayer. This was because his mother-in-law, veteran South African actress Twala, had just passed away.

Instead of receiving heartfelt condolences, however, South Africans started to criticise and ask extremely personal questions.

Black Twitter in particular went for him, and some quoted scripture while others hurled insults at them for their same-sex relationship.  

Twala’s funeral also happened to be on Mohale’s birthday. The businessman shared a snap of a diamond ring that Somizi gave him as a gift that same day.

This did not sit well with those who claim tradition advises against flashing things when a member of a family has passed on. They were particularly vocal as he showed the ring off on the day of the funeral.

Celebrities have had enough

However, the tide may be turning against the cruel comments. What South Africa has come to know as Black Twitter is looming large. It can overshadow the positive impact the social media platform has in many people’s lives around the world.

Many celebrities and public figures are Black Twitter’s daily bread.

In the Unite States (US), celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Lizzo and Justin Bieber either had to wipe out or deactivate their social media accounts because of trolls.

In South Africa, Nomzamo Mbatha, Pearl Thusi, Sarah Langa, Somizi and others have raised their concerns about the toxicity of Black Twitter.

Watch: Somizi speaks out

Successful Twitter movements

According to The Undefeated, for example, the social media platform has blessed careers and jump-started social justice movements.

This has been especially true for black users who have used Twitter to circumvent traditional channels to get their voices heard.

Recently we’ve seen #JusticeForNaledi and many other women and children who are victims of gender-based violence. There are also massive hashtags, such as #BlackLivesMatter, and other successful movements such as #NotInMyName and #MeToo.