Tweets kept rolling in by the minute, with international news websites such as BBC, also picking up on the story.<\/p>\n
“Julius Malema wants to shut down Twitter?” Hahahahahahahahahaha, best joke4 2day,” several users commented in reply to a post by 5fm radio jock Gareth Cliff.<\/p>\n
Another, user EarleneBSmith, said: “Today is create a juju malema account day… do it… you know your red sockes (sic) want to…. lol!”<\/p>\n
Garethdv added: “ANCYL to close down Twitter… They truly are a bunch of gifted individuals!”<\/p>\n
Another, kerryannerogers, pointed out grammar mistakes in the African National Congress Youth League statement: “In fact ANCYL statement called for ‘closer of Twitter’ following ‘cretation’ of fake accounts. Was that so we’d know it was the real Malema?”<\/p>\n
The ANCYL said on Wednesday it would call for the closure of Twitter if the social network administrators did nothing to stop Malema impersonators.<\/p>\n
“We will look at ways of stopping this… Even if it means going to the police,” spokesman Floyd Shivambu said.<\/p>\n
A search of Malema on Twitter reveals 12 users including Julius_Malema, JMalema, Julius_S_Malema and jujumalema.<\/p>\n
Of the 12 users six bear the picture of the firebrand youth leader.<\/p>\n
The impersonators continued their work on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
One user, named JujuMalemaOZ, offered black empowerment “tips”.<\/p>\n
“Julius Malema empowerment tips#10 Friends = comrades, badguys = Agents, opposition = cockroach and Jonny walker = yebo yes!.<\/p>\n
“Julius Malema empowering tips#9 Agents are everywhere, use a helmet to block brain scanners, no need for me, no brain to scan,” the post read.<\/p>\n
Another impersonator, called julius_m_jnr, wrote: “Trying to help Daddy find the Pedi word for ‘satire’… Any help plz, how do I explain it to him? #malema.”<\/p>\n
Someone else suggested: “Funny We may just have found the ANCYL’s weak spot. They’re terrified of Twitter. Let’s ALL start fake Julius Malema accounts!”<\/p>\n