News24 The Lead

Exposing X-Boer, the ex-farmer in Elon Musk’s ear

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On 'X', he goes by the name ‘Twatterbaas’, and his messages have attracted the attention of Elon Musk and, thus, the Trump Administration. Regularly, the anonymous account posts racist tropes and promotes selective views that have reinforced misinformation about South Africa. But now we know who is behind the account: Sebastiaan Jooste, a 46-year-old former farmer living in Gordon's Bay, near Cape Town. "These posts without nuance, with these racist undertones and overtones, are what makes this a highly problematic account. This person has deeply problematic views about South Africa and South Africans," News24 investigative journalist Kyle Cowan tells The Lead. Cowan was at the helm of this expose. "I almost feel, based on everything he posted, Mr Jooste probably wanted to be identified as linked to this account." Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer tells us about an ex-Cederberg deputy mayor who’s convicted of fraud. And finally, an SA woman treks from Jo’burg to the Mother City all in the name of Dercum’s Disease awareness. Mail your comments and voice notes to thelead@24.com. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.
29 Apr English South Africa News · Society & Culture

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