While Durban and Johannesburg faced riots, looters and arsonists during the recent troubles in South Africa, Cape Town was facing its own demons with taxi violence and harsh weather. These people decided they would spread rumours of similar incidents of unrest in and around Cape Town. At the malls, fearing the looting in Johannesburg and Durban had finally found its way to Cape Town, mall security and shopkeepers quickly shut up shop trapping some people inside. Nairobi was a prolific political rumour mill and the main way rumours, especially about politics, were spread were through word of mouth and the fax machine. At one point, President Daniel arap Moi, who was not above spreading the odd rumour himself, called for rumour mongers to be isolated by right-thinking members of the community.

Source: The Star July 25, 2021 01:52 UTC