Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, says controversial social media figure, Goolam Mohammed Suliman Vawda, was used as a mechanism to destroy other people’s lives. 

McKenzie said Vawda confirmed and revealed who he was working for. 

The minister, who passed his condolences following Vawda’s mysterious death, said Vawda also wanted to attack other politicians using his (McKenzie) name. 

Vawda is predominantly known as the controversial figure behind the influential X account @Goolamv, which was used to spread hate speech, cyberbullying, and defamatory statements targeting political figures and prominent citizens. 

However, he last posted on January 18, just a few days before his lifeless body was found in a hotel room in Sandton on Tuesday morning. 

Vawda has targeted McKenzie’s past as a convicted criminal and questioned his suitability for his current ministerial role.

He also positioned him as a populist or a “sell-out”, particularly regarding the Government of National Unity (GNU). 

McKenzie dismissed such social media campaigns as being pushed by influencers and his political rivals. 

“He used to write many, many bad lies about me publicly; he caused me great harm, and a few months ago, he started telling me who was responsible or behind the campaign of lies that was told about me,” McKenzie said, adding that he is sad that Vawda is no more. 

The minister further said: “I am glad that he realised that I am not who he used to say to his followers. He was just used, and it was big of him to come out and say it.”

McKenzie added that he will soon expose the person and political party behind Vawda’s campaign against him.

Vawda also targeted various political figures with smear campaigns, including former president Jacob Zuma and his daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, Julius Malema, and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.

While he attacked these political figures, he was also accused of using his X account to drive support for the current administration, specifically President Cyril Ramaphosa and ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula.

Many social media users viewed him as a “propaganda machine” or “sock puppet” who used sensitive government information to target and discredit journalists and politicians.

“Young people on socials should not be used by people to destroy people. I have many times told him to hold on whenever he wanted to attack people in my name,” McKenzie said. 

Vawda’s death comes barely days after he was reportedly served with multiple court papers alleging fraud, cyberbullying, hate speech, and defamatory conduct. 

These complaints had been lodged by politicians, media personalities, and private citizens who claimed they were targeted by his posts on X, which critics said amounted to coordinated political disinformation campaigns. 

Those who opened criminal cases against him include former minister Lindiwe Sisulu and journalists.

Sisulu filed a criminal complaint against Vawda in July 2024. The case involves allegations of cyberbullying and defamation. She claimed that Vawda used social media to launch “unjustified and highly inflammatory” attacks based on false information to damage her reputation.

He also accused a journalist (known to Independent Media) of being paid for writing fake news stories.

It was revealed that alcohol bottles and drugs had allegedly been found in a hotel room alongside his body. 

The luxury suite in which his body was found was allegedly paid for by a communications company. 

On Tuesday, police confirmed that they opened an inquest and were waiting for post-mortem results. 

Asked to give an update about the results and whether police are also doing a toxicology report, Gauteng police spokesperson, Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, said: “Please note that the response I gave still stands and I am not at liberty to comment further on this matter.”

manyane.manyane@inl.co.za

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