Gwede Mantashe Hazenile

Gwede Mantashe at SONA 2019. Photo: thesouthafrican.com / Luke Daniel

Gwede Mantashe: April Fool’s prank comes back to bite minister

It’s never a dull day when Gwede Mantashe represents South Africa on the international stage. But his most recent speech could have come from Wakanda.

Gwede Mantashe Hazenile

Gwede Mantashe at SONA 2019. Photo: thesouthafrican.com / Luke Daniel

Let’s file this one under “colossal own goal” shall we? Gwede Mantashe has been left red-faced, after telling a mining conference in Australia about the benefits of Hazenile – a supposed “miracle mineral” that can slash the costs of lithium batteries ten-fold. The only problem? It simply doesn’t exist.

What is Hazenile? Well, it’s definitely not a mineral…

Mining Minister Mantashe confidently told an audience of stakeholders and investors that Hazenile was the future, and it plays a vital role for South Africa going forward. His speech was positively received – but when you’re making minerals up like you live in Wakanda, it’s a little easier to get the crowds on board.

Mantashe fell for a prank orchestrated by Smart Energy International. On April Fool’s Day this year, they hailed the discovery as a gamechanger for the country. They took creative license and made-up a completely bogus story. At the top of the article, a message in red writing reads: “This was an APRIL FOOL’s joke. We hope you had a laugh along with us…

Gwede Mantashe falls hook, line and sinker for prank article

We may not have been giggling at the time, but now, you can consider our sides split. His pre-prepared speech was seemingly not checked correctly, and Gwede Mantashe went on to promote Hazenile like he had personally unearthed it. Word to the wise: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is…

“The mineral, Hazenile, when combined with traditional lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide increases energy density, lifespan of the battery and lowers the likelihood of fire to near zero. Hazenile has been discovered in abudance in the area between the Crypte and Throne Room caves in the Congo Caves complex in the Western Cape province of South Africa.”

Smart Energy International’s April Fool’s Day article

Do your homework, Gwede Mantashe

Interestingly enough, it would seem Mantashe got his caves mixed-up too. There’s no such thing as the “Congo Caves” in the Western Cape… What are those Smart Energy International pranksters like, eh?

Despite the blunder, Mantashe’s department told Business Live that the conference was ultimately a success, with over 20 partnerships reaffirmed between South African and international interests. The Perth audience may have seen the minister dig himself into a hole, but at least he hasn’t fallen into a bottomless pit.