Watch: Eastern Cape Health MEC Gomba denies farting mid-interview

Monday was an eventful day for Eastern Cape Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba. The beleaguered politician has faced criticism for the way her province has handled the coronavirus crisis, and it may have made her target of some fairly creative video editors. Gomba’s department has had to dismiss two viral clips this week – including one which shows her farting mid-interview with SABC.

Eastern Cape Health MEC ‘did not make racial remarks’ about Cuban Doctors

Sizwe Kupelo is a spokesperson for the Eastern Cape’s Health Department. He moved to extinguish the twin flames by establishing that both clips, which had surfaced over the last 48 hours, were essentially fake news. The first video tried to pin Sindiswe Gomba for using racially inflammatory language:

“In one distorted clip, the MEC can be heard apologising for the Cuban doctors not being ‘white’. In actual fact, Sindiswe Gomba apologised to the premier because the doctors were not dressed for the occasion in white coats. To then edit the clip to suit a certain narrative is malicious and unfairly presents the MEC as a racist.”

Sizwe Kupelo

The claim even managed to trip up some South African journalists…

[APOLOGY] Earlier I tweeted a video of the EC Health MEC, Sindiswa Gomba which & without fact-checking, I assumed she referred to the RACE of Cuban doctors but I'm informed she referred to WHITE COATS. Apologies to the MEC and for any inconvenience this tweet might have caused

— Ayabonga Kekana (@Ayabonga_Kekana) May 18, 2020

Sindiswe Gomba – did the Eastern Cape MEC ‘fart on TV’?

On a much lighter note, Kupelo also felt compelled to dismiss claims Gomba had ‘let one rip’ during an interview with SABC on Monday. This is, apparently, a doctored clip:

Nothing like the MEC of Health Sindiswa Gomba …farting on live TV 😳😳😳😳🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈 pic.twitter.com/YUdNhOvvP2

— Rene Lawrence (@ReneLaw08) May 19, 2020

“Another clip purporting the MEC to fart during a TV interview has also been shared widely. The MEC had to apologise for making a verbal mistake in a fluffed word to which some bored people then edited a sound as if she was apologising for farting. Our creatives must use their editing skills [in a more constructive way].”

Sizwe Kupelo

Always do your double-checks

This double-header of false information serves as a timely reminder to always check the facts. Both clips spread like wildfire, yet each one has supposedly been edited.

If you come across something that seems a little controversial or damaging to one’s character, it’s best to do more research before passing comment. After all, sharing fake news is a criminal act during our state of emergency.