I know what you’re thinking, the guy’s been taking us all for fools since day one, but yesterday the Presidency of South Africa sent out a media release yanking a few chains and some folks walked right into it.

Now this wasn’t exactly putting toothpaste in an Oreo kind of pranking but rather one for the more politically inclined out there. News24 reports:

A media release sent out by the Presidency after midday stated that former minister in the presidency, Essop Pahad, who held that position from 1999 to 2008, has been appointed as the new minister in the presidency responsible for public participation and interface.

Former minister of defence, Charles Nqakula, was appointed as minister of roads and traffic affairs, and ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa was appointed deputy minister for social cohesion and nation-building.

This caused much scampering on behalf of news outlets to confirm the release, then followed by official spokesperson Mac Maharaj saying the release was accurate and the relevant parties could be contacted directly for more information.

Essop Pahad was the first to let the cat out the bag and  told News24 when contacted that they had been pranked:

It’s the first of April today. It’s April Fools’ day and I am very pleased to see that [presidential spokesperson] Mac Maharaj still has a great sense of humour.

Wow, if that isn’t ‘roll on the floor’ kind of stuff I don’t know what is. Not everyone was impressed, mind you, with this from City Press:

Some journalists pointed out that it was in bad taste, especially in the wake of the death of Public Service and Administration Minister Collins Chabane, which created a vacancy.

The presidency was also criticised for releasing the joke late as the pranking is supposed to end at noon.

ANC arch-nemesis Mmusi Maimane said he could see the funny side of the prank but implored them to be serious the rest of the year. Don’t we all Mmusi, don’t we all…

[sources:news24&citypress]