Political parties in KwaZulu-Natal have come out guns blazing, shooting down rumours of 5G towers being linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This follows the burning of the cellular networks in the province amid social media claims that it helps spread the deadly virus that has the turned the world upside down, claiming thousands of lives.
IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa says people should stop demolishing the towers as they have nothing to do with the virus.
Hlabisa says the demolition of the towers will only affect the same communities that are being duped into believing that the networks are a problem.
He is urging locals to not reject a COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available in the country to avoid the loss of life South Africa witnessed at the beginning of the Aids pandemic in the country where people didn’t take antiretroviral drugs due to lies that were peddled about them being deadly.
DA KwaZulu-Natal leader, Zwakele Mncwango, has also weighed in on the matter.
He says 5G has nothing to do with the spread of COVID-19.
Urging people to stop spreading unsubstantiated claims, Mncwango says the towers not only assist with communication but also help hospital respirators, which are used to improve the condition of those with breathing problems.
Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has also slammed the attacks on the cellphone network towers.
Calling for the arrest of those responsible for the destruction of the towers, Ndabeni-Abrahams described the misinformation campaign as a threat to investments made into telecoms network infrastructure. – Philani Zulu is the News Editor of Maputaland Community Radio.