First fake report on PM Modi, then cyber-attack claim: How South African news site ‘fanned’ agenda

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to South Africa for the BRICS Summit got mired in controversy as a leading news website named Daily Maverick published reports of Indian PM getting snubbed by the African government, resulting in latter getting furious over ‘tardy’ reception.

In its report, the South African news website Daily Maverick reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after landing in South Africa on August 22 refused to get off the plane as a cabinet minister was sent at the Waterkloof Air base in Pretoria airport (near Johannesburg) to receive him, for the BRICS Summit.

“It was only after African Vice-President Paul Mashatile reached the airport for PM Modi’s reception, the latter alighted from plane,” it reported.

The website also informed that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had gone to personally receive Chinese President Xi Jinping.

However, within hours, the news report was dubbed as motivated & fabricated by South African government. Senior officials, in charge of overseeing top dignitaries visit to South Africa for the BRICS Summmit, vehemently denied any lapses during PM Modi’s reception at the airport.

South African Deputy President’s Spokesperson, Vukani Mde went on record to say that news report of PM Modi getting snubbed at the airport was ‘false & fabricated’.

South African Government Refutes Allegations of PM Modi Snub Amid BRICS Summit; South African Deputy President’s Spokesperson, Vukani Mde speaks to @WIONews , terms South African media report as not true. https://t.co/iYBybZqyGR pic.twitter.com/wwK3vPRMR2

— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 23, 2023

He also revealed that the information of PM Modi’s plane landing at the airport was communicated to Vice-President’s office well in advance and the Vice-President was well on time to receive India Prime Minister.

Back home, Prime Minister office also tweeted that PM Modi was welcomed at the airport by South African vice-President Paul Mashatile.

PM @narendramodi landed in Johannesburg, South Africa a short while ago.

He was warmly received by Deputy President @PMashatile. pic.twitter.com/rOciyXVpxW

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 22, 2023

‘Website under attack, banned in India’

After the website’s narrative failed, Daily Maverick claimed on August 24 that it was facing cyberattack from Indian servers, thus forcing leaving its portal dysfunctional in India.

“Several hours ago, the site suddenly went down. We picked it up very quickly and started identifying a massive distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. We investigated and found it was coming from a whole host of Indian servers,” said Daily Maverick’s security coordinator on X.

Daily Maverick’s alleged links with George Soros

A twitter handle by Alok Bhatt claims to have ‘unearthed’ shady connection between the news website & investors like US-based George Soros & Omidyar, known for their anti-India campaign. It also went on to explain how a propaganda against Prime Minister was planned & propagated via the news outlet.

So the chronology of the fake @dailymaverick story on South African trip of PM Modi is as follows:
1. Daily Maverick was chosen as it is funded by Soros owned OSF besides Omidyar’s Luminate. Hate of Soros & Omidyar for PM @narendramodi is well known as charities funded by both of… https://t.co/5D3Y6VMoNN pic.twitter.com/wIje3qoAJA

— Alok Bhatt (@alok_bhatt) August 24, 2023

He claimed that since both US investors have funding Daily Maverick, their anti-agenda agenda is being pushed by the portal.

And, as the fake news started circulating, it was quickly lapped up in India, by self-proclaimed fact-checkers like Zubair.