It’s April Fools and we are unashamedly media geeks so let’s get to some of the stories spooking sleepy news junkies this morning.
Last year Helen Zille would be forgoing her normal lifestyle as Western Cape premier and be moving into the township of Khayelitsha for the last two weeks before the 7 May elections. The SABC, Independent News & Media and Gupta-owned The New Age/ANN7 were also set to announce that they are merging into one giant entity whose goal would be to, once and for all, tell the definitive truth about South Africa; day in, day out, on all media channels, until Jesus comes.
This year sacked Cosatu Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi is replacing Julius Malema at the head of the Economic Freedom Fighters, DStv finally gets some competition and Eskom announces “loadshedding stage 3G.”
Some April Fool’s highlights from around the South African web
Daily Maverick: Vavi joins EFF as interim head
In a stunning move that took almost every political analyst in the country by surprise, sacked Cosatu Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi will replace Julius Malema at the head of the Economic Freedom Fighters until the Commander in Chief has warded off corruption charges. And along with him comes another out-of-left-field appointment.
Our favourite bits: “We are a Marxist-Leninist Fanonian party,” Malema stated. “And Vavi has read almost all of those books.” and “He is a peerless locator of buildings,” said deputy president Floyd Shivambu. “We should have a nice new home shortly.”
Business Day: Turkish company floats power ship idea to buoy Eskom’s capacity
THE Department of Energy is poring over plans to source electricity from energy ships and power barges that could save Eskom millions.
IOL: A new kind of loadshedding for SA?
Eskom plans to disconnect mobile Facebook and WhatsApp users from the internet. In what is termed “loadshedding stage 3G”, the power utility thinks it has a new way to save electricity.
MyBroadband: MyBroadband launches DStv competitor
MyBroadband has partnered with international content providers to launch MyBroadband TV – a DStv competitor offering over 100 channels for only R99 per month.
Memeburn: Memeburn goes back to the future with Y2K – Cyber rebrand
The new name, Y2K — Cyber, take its cue from the halcyon days of the dotcom boom as does the retro feel of the branding. Fun fonts, a space-inspired background and an assertive tagline all come together to reflect an online publisher that knows where its future lies.
Local brand pranking
Shoprite Group: Shoprite announces GPS Smart Trolley
The Shoprite Group has announced the launch of a shopping trolley with GPS to direct consumers fast and effectively, also alerting them to discounted products and promotions while instore.
Safarinow: Nkandla – the Ultimate Getaway
Nestled between the picturesque towns of Kwanskop and Eshowe in rural KwaZulu-Natal, close to the rolling hills of Magengela and just two hours from the tranquil lagoon resort of Richards Bay, this simple homestead – recently renovated to the tune of R250 million – offers everything the discerning family demands in luxurious holiday extravagance.
Some April Fool’s highlights from around the global web
The Guardian: Jeremy Clarkson joins Guardian drive for fossil fuel divestment
The disgraced former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has become the latest celebrity to support the Guardian’s campaign for fossil fuel divestment.
Following what he described as a “dark night of the soul”, Clarkson said he hoped to “regain the trust of the British public” by dedicating his time and financial resources to sustainable energy, road safety and forging mutual understanding and tolerance between people of different cultures and religions.
Last year Helen Zille would be forgoing her normal lifestyle as Western Cape premier and be moving into the township of Khayelitsha for the last two weeks before the 7 May elections. The SABC, Independent News & Media and Gupta-owned The New Age/ANN7 were also set to announce that they are merging into one giant entity whose goal would be to, once and for all, tell the definitive truth about South Africa; day in, day out, on all media channels, until Jesus comes.
This year sacked Cosatu Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi is replacing Julius Malema at the head of the Economic Freedom Fighters, DStv finally gets some competition and Eskom announces “loadshedding stage 3G.”
Some April Fool’s highlights from around the South African web
Daily Maverick: Vavi joins EFF as interim head
In a stunning move that took almost every political analyst in the country by surprise, sacked Cosatu Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi will replace Julius Malema at the head of the Economic Freedom Fighters until the Commander in Chief has warded off corruption charges. And along with him comes another out-of-left-field appointment.
Our favourite bits: “We are a Marxist-Leninist Fanonian party,” Malema stated. “And Vavi has read almost all of those books.” and “He is a peerless locator of buildings,” said deputy president Floyd Shivambu. “We should have a nice new home shortly.”
Business Day: Turkish company floats power ship idea to buoy Eskom’s capacity
THE Department of Energy is poring over plans to source electricity from energy ships and power barges that could save Eskom millions.
IOL: A new kind of loadshedding for SA?
Eskom plans to disconnect mobile Facebook and WhatsApp users from the internet. In what is termed “loadshedding stage 3G”, the power utility thinks it has a new way to save electricity.
MyBroadband: MyBroadband launches DStv competitor
MyBroadband has partnered with international content providers to launch MyBroadband TV – a DStv competitor offering over 100 channels for only R99 per month.
Memeburn: Memeburn goes back to the future with Y2K – Cyber rebrand
The new name, Y2K — Cyber, take its cue from the halcyon days of the dotcom boom as does the retro feel of the branding. Fun fonts, a space-inspired background and an assertive tagline all come together to reflect an online publisher that knows where its future lies.
Local brand pranking
Shoprite Group: Shoprite announces GPS Smart Trolley
The Shoprite Group has announced the launch of a shopping trolley with GPS to direct consumers fast and effectively, also alerting them to discounted products and promotions while instore.
Safarinow: Nkandla – the Ultimate Getaway
Nestled between the picturesque towns of Kwanskop and Eshowe in rural KwaZulu-Natal, close to the rolling hills of Magengela and just two hours from the tranquil lagoon resort of Richards Bay, this simple homestead – recently renovated to the tune of R250 million – offers everything the discerning family demands in luxurious holiday extravagance.
Some April Fool’s highlights from around the global web
The Guardian: Jeremy Clarkson joins Guardian drive for fossil fuel divestment
The disgraced former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has become the latest celebrity to support the Guardian’s campaign for fossil fuel divestment.
Following what he described as a “dark night of the soul”, Clarkson said he hoped to “regain the trust of the British public” by dedicating his time and financial resources to sustainable energy, road safety and forging mutual understanding and tolerance between people of different cultures and religions.
