ATM ask Ramaphosa to probe Bill Gates, Trevor Noah over tennis match

Let’s make things perfectly clear. Bill Gates is not planning to use Africa as the testing ground for a vaccine. And he certainly has no plans to ‘depopulate’ the continent. But the provocative forces of the African Transformation Movement (ATM) have decided to stir the pot of conspiracies, also dragging Trevor Noah into ‘tin-foil hat territory’

Tennis match or smokescreen?

In an official statement – which is an issue in itself – the ATM listed a series of questions they want to ask President Cyril Ramaphosa via an urgent meeting this week. The organisation would like to know what Bill Gates’ “relationship with the South African government” is and, bizarrely, they want to probe Trevor Noah too.

Their enquiries begin with an odd claim about the Match In Africa that took place in February. On the undercard to Federer vs Nadal was a charity game including Gates and Noah.

ATM ask Ramaphosa to clarify Bill Gates, Trevor Noah ‘influence’

The pair have remained chums, with Trevor interviewing the Microsoft founder last week. But the ATM want to know if this was merely part of a “smokescreen”. They also want to ask:

• “What did you, Cyril Ramaphosa, discuss with Bill Gates during his visit to South Africa in February?”
• “Why is Trevor Noah now spearheading the PR exercise of such a complex medical issue?”
• “What deals have the government struck with Bill Gates?”
• “Why should South Africans believe that our continent won’t be used as a ‘testing ground’ for vaccines?”
• “Can you confirm or dispel rumours that contaminated masks are being shared in townships to ‘depopulate’ them?”

No, Bill Gates isn’t trying to control the population

Their request for a meeting to discuss these issues is likely to be rejected. With some palpable contempt, too. The Gates Foundation has already dismissed rumours about their vaccination plans, forcing one publication to issue an apology for getting the facts wrong. Indeed, every question raised by the ATM is steeped in misinformation.

• You can read the party’s conspiracy-fuelled statement here. Please consume with a pinch of salt…