The street vendor who sold high-flying ANC officials chicken feet while on the campaign trail in Ennerdale, south of Johannesburg, says she was paid R30 for her stock, which they used in a controversial video to boast about supporting the local economy and “for the sake of the vote”.
Gauteng community safety MEC Faith Mazibuko and Loyiso Masuku, Johannesburg ANC deputy secretary and member of the Joburg mayoral committee for corporate and shared services caused a stir on social media yesterday when a video of them went viral where they appeared to gloat about eating chicken feet “for the sake of the vote”.
The ANC officials were in Meriting informal settlement in Ennerdale on Wednesday where they were campaigning for the party during the by-elections held in the ward that included the impoverished area.
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Maki Mokoena, 35, the entrepreneur whose braaied chicken feet were bought by Mazibuko and Masuku on the day, told Sowetan yesterday that the ANC officials arrived in the area in a convoy of cars and they found her on the street, selling as usual.
She said she was quizzed on whether she had voted before they could spend money on her business.
"One of the ladies came with R20 and said I should only give them chicken feet for R10 and keep the change. But the MEC insisted that I give them chicken feet for R20. They then asked for additional ones for R10 and I was left with some to sell to other customers," she said.
She told Sowetan that she used the R30 to buy bath soap and porridge (maize meal) for her children.
In the video shared on social media, Mazibuko said: “Sidla namaotwana khona la (We are even eating chicken feet here), local economy.”
Masuku could then be heard saying that they were only eating chicken feet "for the sake of the vote".
“For the sake of the vote, sivale istolo sawathenga wonke amaninqina (we closed down the store and bought all the chicken feet), sold out!” Masuku said in the video. But Mokoena has denied that they paid for all her stock.
Both Mazibuko and Masuku have since issued apologies for the video.
“There is a video circulating on social media where I am eating chicken feet during a door-to-door [campaign] yesterday. It is known that wherever I go, I buy food in the community to support the local economy. Fat [cakes] are my favourite. But I decided to apologise because there were things said [on the video] that may not sit well with people.
“The aim was to buy something to eat because we were hungry and also wanted to support local businesses. It was not vote buying. I apologise sincerely,” wrote Mazibuko.
In her apology posted on Twitter yesterday, Masuku said the video was taken out of context.
“We made a quick stop for food because we were really hungry and had been working throughout the day doing door-to-door, creating awareness on by-elections and the voting process. The clip has been cut and shows only bits and pieces without the full context,” said Masuku.
“The child next to us was with the woman from which we bought amanqina. An earlier part of the clip showing the child eating is also available. The comment about the 'for the sake of the vote' was in reference to working long hours doing our elections campaign work and not in any way to voters.
“To an extent where I asked Cde Faith why the manqina are red and she said they have chilli and I told her I don't eat chilli food, but because I'm starving let me try. It was in no way directed at anybody and I sincerely apologise for the misunderstanding. Ndiyaxolisa bethunana.”
The politicians received backlash on social media for appearing to be eating in front of the little boy and not giving him food.
Masuku shared another video in which the boy is seen feasting on the chicken feet with the ANC officials.
Mokoena said on a good day she can make R170 and she used this money to support her two children aged 20 and four. She pays for her burial society and also supports her husband.
"There is nothing you can do in this place. I have to sell this to take care of my family. This money may seem small but at the end of the month I am able to pay for what my family needs," she said.
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