Gibson Makanda was born out of the conspiracy surrounding the death of the former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. Most South Africans argue that the person who served as president after supposedly Mandela was a clone. Some South Africans suspected Makhanda Gibson Makanda to be the fake Nelson Mandela who replaced him after his death in a protest against Apartheid in South Africa.
Another set of people believed that the real Nelson Mandela died during his stay in prison ( house arrest) in Robben Island during the 1980s.
South Africans assume that Gibson Makanda was the clone that replaced Nelson Mandela and ‘Gibson Makanda ‘was the person who negotiated the new era of South Africa from an Apartheid form of Government to a full democracy where everyone of any colour could contest in a general election.
One conspiracy theory discussed in South Africa surrounds South Africa’s first black president, Nelson Mandela. They further stated that the former president of South Africa died long before the end of the apartheid. Although it might not be true, they choose to run with it.
Reason for this conspiracy theory
Many South Africans believe this theory because of the following:
The brutality of the war
It is believed that the war against apartheid was ruthless, with the military and paramilitary using wild dogs, tear gases, guns, and other dangerous weapons. For this reason, most people believe Nelson Mandela died in the war, but the South African government replaced him with a clone.
The celebration of the sixty-seven minutes
South Africans are required to celebrate sixty-seven minutes on 18th June every year. Some people believe this celebration is set to pay homage and respect to the real Nelson Mandela, who died in jail on Robben Island aged 67.
According to confirmed reports on Facebook:
The conspiracy theorist Phumi Maps believes Nelson Mandela died in 1985. Winnie knows the truth; she was forced to divorce the fake Mandela when he exited prison to protect her true identity. Johnny Clegg hinted in the song “We have not seen Mandela.”
Laph’ehlelo “In the place where he is”
Laph’ehlelo khona’s “In the place where he is buried” song was released in 1987. Why are we commemorating the 67th minute of Madiba’s day? Nelson was 67 years old when he was killed in prison in 1985. The man is believed to be a foreigner Gidbosn Makanda who was taken to Pollmor prison in May 1985 for plastic surgery performed by a few doctors from London. He was also trained to speak and walk like Nelson Mandela.
Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela’s divorce
Some South Africans credit the divorce between Winnie and Nelson immediately after his release because she would have found out that he was a clone.
Nelson Mandela’s family reaction to the conspiracy theory
The family of Nelson Mandela poured cold water on all the conspiracy theories. The family released an official statement that cleared all the rumours and conspiracy. However, despite the official notification released, the late Zindzi Mandela felt the need to let her opinion be known, especially with the stories gaining traction on social media. She laughed off the conspiracy theory and even implied that a Twitter user supporting the idea was perhaps mentally disturbed.
This person’s psychiatrist may need to be made aware that (s)he has access to social media. They must remove that privilege forthwith and double the dosage.
Although the rumours about Mandela’s clone Gibson Makanda had died out, they resurfaced when the famous FaceApp application gained popularity in the country. The application “revealed” or otherwise “suggested” that an aged Mandela looked nothing like the individual released to the world from prison on 11th February 1990.
Similarly, other South Africans have also rubbished the claim, especially when looking at Gibson Makanda’s pictures.
Gibson Makanda is the man who gained popularity from his association with South Africa’s most iconic political figure, Nelson Mandela. There is a conspiracy theory that he is the man who stepped into Mandela’s shoes after his passing. In a picture posted online comparing Nelson Mandela and Gibson, the two appear to have moles but different sides.