The 5G-coronavirus conspiracy theories have once again been reignited, only this time by an ANC councillor at the eThekwini municipality in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
TimesLIVE has reported that a voicenote of Sfiso Mngadi, who serves as ANC councillor within the eThekwini municipality, is circulating on social media suggesting that people are getting COVID-19 from 5G towers.
In the voicenote, Mngadi is quoted saying: “As leaders of eThekwini, we need to take action against this disease. It is not COVID. We are getting this thing from 5G towers, installed during this period in preparation of the second wave.
“Maybe we as councillors need to call a special council meeting, take a decision that all 5G towers must be disconnected in eThekwini.”
eThekwini was among the key KZN municipal districts where Vodacom rolled out its 5G network last month, after switching on its live 5G mobile network in three cities – Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town.
The mobile operator said Vodacom customers with 5G-enabled devices, and within a 5G coverage area, are now able to access the new 5G network in KZN.
According to TimesLIVE, Mngadi confirmed that he recorded the voicenote, adding that he stands by his comments.
The councillor went on to say that once 5G towers are disconnected there would be no more sickness in eThekwini, the news publication reports. “This thing of sitting around waiting for Zweli Mkhize, for Ramaphosa... let us just disconnect the 5G towers. In other countries they disconnected them.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the globe last year, campaigns spreading dangerous myths linking 5G to the outbreak of the COVID-19 went viral on social media platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok.
Maybe we as councillors need to call a special council meeting, take a decision that all 5G towers must be disconnected in eThekwini.
Sfiso Mngadi, ANC councillor, eThekwini municipality
Actor Woody Harrelson, Dancing On Ice judge Jason Gardiner, Made In Chelsea star Lucy Watson, reality TV star Calum Best, actor John Cusack and singer Keri Hilson were among those who shared content suggesting a link between 5G and COVID-19.
Furthermore, anti-5G groups shared false claims about 5G and damaged 5G infrastructure, with countries such as the UK and Netherlands reporting cases of arson or sabotage attacks on telecom towers.
South African health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize previously dispelled claims that 5G technology played a role in the conception or spread of COVID-19 pandemic, labelling the theory as “fake news”.
“The reality is that 5G is a technology, and coronavirus is an organic infection that is based on a living viral agent,” Mkhize said at the time.
“The coronavirus is not something that you can link to any technology. The form of spread is well described scientifically in terms of the viral agents and its behaviour is well-known. We have tracked this virus and we know it comes from animals.”
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