The Nelson Mandela Bay Communications office is tasked to inform the public and media of pertinent information to do with the Municipality. To that end they make use of various avenues – media lists, social media, newspaper adverts, internal publications etc.
All information released by the Municipal Communications office can be found here: http://mype.co.za/new/author/nmb-communications/ (expect this to dry up as I think MyPE may be quietly removed from that media list soon).
I received the email below this morning:
Media Alert
November 19, 2013
Community structures unite to help family of Uitenhage riot victim
After receiving a plea for help from the family of 10-year-old Marisha Speelman, the ANC in Nelson Mandela Bay, Clergy from Uitenhage and Afrisave, one of the local companies that take their social responsibility seriously, will be making an announcement at the premises of Afrisave in Uitenhage at 13:30 today (Tuesday, 19 November).
This initiative shows how different community structures can unite to make a difference in the lives of those in need.
Marisha, daughter of Bonakele and Maria Speelman, came to her tragic demise last week at a time when public and private property was damaged and the lives threatened of legitimately elected public representatives.
An announcement will be made regarding assistance to the grief-stricken family.
For more information, please contact ANC Regional Secretary, Mr Zandisile Qupe, at 082 303 5690.
Ends
Issued by Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Media Management Officer Kupido Baron (082 780 2726 / 041 506 1500 / kbaron@mandelametro.gov.za / @kupidobaron).
Why do I say that this is an abuse of Ratepayers money?
- If the IFP or COPE or DA or any other party asked the Communications office for use of their media list I have a reasonable expectation that they would be refused.
- As an example MyPE, out of respect for our subscribers, does NOT provide or send out emails on behalf of other media companies or businesses.
- This is not a Municipal organised event but an ANC organised event USING the municipal media list and officials in an attempt to gain traction.
- The communications department is trying to guilt media into covering this ‘event’.
- I find it a bit creepy that the people holding this ‘event’ are seeking media coverage and, frankly, appearing to be ghouls around a private tragedy brought about by the failure of our municipality to deliver service.
- Trying to equate the death of a child at the hands of savages with “the lives threatened of legitimately elected public representatives” is stretching to breaking point the tenuous link to any form of legitimacy.
What next?
- Emailed press releases announcing the sale of ANC T-Shirts, Lanyards, Funeral Posters and more?
- Press release invites to attend private birthday parties?
@MyPE @NMBmunicipality @HeraldPE @rochelledekock a disgraceful conflation of party and state! UNACCEPTABLE!
— Andrew Whitfield, MP (@andrewhitfield) November 19, 2013
@MyPE another eg of unashamed ANC spin woven into a NMB statement http://t.co/sExmzE0kZN
— Andrew Whitfield, MP (@andrewhitfield) November 19, 2013
Alan Straton
Latest posts by Alan Straton (see all)
- Why Digital Equity Is South Africa’s New Frontier for Women’s Empowerment – By Matebe Chisiza-Asukile and Natasha Mboyisa - 25 September 2026
- New Champions Rise at the 2026 Street Lines Skate Tournament - 23 September 2026
- When Manufacturers Have a ‘Beef’ Then Both Suffer - 23 September 2026
- How Much Are You Worth per Year to Your Bank? - 23 September 2026
- Better Business Processes. Stronger Workplace Skills. Smarter AI. Greater Business Productivity. - 23 September 2026
I find it very interesting that the first thought and action that you decided upon is to try to create a political storm over a media alert about a united community initiative to help a bereaved family. The subject matter of the press release is help for the family of a 10-year-old primary school learner who died during the Uitenhage riots last week, after all. Perhaps you should have thought of how to help before shouting about WHO (Afrisave, church leaders and a leading political party) is helping the family. I am reminded of the words of Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, (a respected ANC member) who recently said that we must work towards the creation of a we-society and not an i-society, as everything is about how the individual can benefit instead of the greater good for the community. Wise words indeed. Perhaps we should repeat it everyday when we go out to serve communities and also remind members of the community that they also have a crucial role to play to make our city a better place.
Well done Kupido on a classic obfuscation technique:
Allow me to rephrase and make your original media release POLITICALLY CORRECT for you:
Community structures unite to help family of Uitenhage riot victim
After receiving a plea for help from the family of 10-year-old Marisha Speelman, a Nelson Mandela Bay political party with the help of Uitenhage Clergy and a local company will be making an announcement of support for the family of Marisha, daughter of Bonakele and Maria Speelman, who came to her tragic demise last week during the Service Delivery protests in Uitenhage.
An announcement will be made regarding assistance to the grief-stricken family.
For more information, please contact Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Media Management Officer Kupido Baron.
Location: Afrisave, Uitenhage
Date: 19 November 2013
Time: 13:30
Ends
Issued by Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Media Management Officer Kupido Baron (082 780 2726 / 041 506 1500 / kbaron@mandelametro.gov.za / @kupidobaron) in the interests of a caring Municipality.
An emailed question for you Kupido: “Ask Mr Baron if the NMB ever publicises any community outreaches from parties other than the ANC that “work towards the creation of a we-society and not an i-society” (as per his words).”?
The only bit of your response that grabbed my attention: “media alert about a united community initiative to help a bereaved family”
Why does there have to be a media alert in the first place?
Why does it have to be publicised?
Why does there have to be an announcement?
Why all the fuss before anything even gets done?
You accuse the writer of trying “to create a political storm”. Are you going to tell me that this “event” is in no way politically motivated?