ANC Replaces Giyani Billboard After Xitsonga Spelling Blunder Sparks Public Backlash

The African National Congress (ANC) in Limpopo has replaced a controversial campaign billboard at the main entrance to Giyani after an error in the spelling of Xitsonga sparked public concern.

The correction comes just days before the party’s Provincial Siyaqoba Rally, scheduled for October 31, 2026, at Peter Mokaba Stadium. ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address party members at the gathering ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

The original billboard attracted criticism after the name of Xitsonga, a language widely spoken in the area, was misspelled on the campaign signage. The error drew attention from residents who considered it an important issue because of the language’s cultural significance and its place in the identity of communities across the region.

The replacement has brought the billboard back into focus as the ANC prepares for a major provincial political event. While campaign billboards are intended to communicate party messages and mobilise support, the mistake turned the Giyani display into a subject of public scrutiny.

The incident also highlighted the expectations placed on political organisations to ensure accuracy in their public messaging, particularly when it involves local languages and cultural identity.

For residents who raised concerns, the issue was not simply about a typographical error. The spelling of a language’s name carries significance, and mistakes on prominent campaign material can be interpreted as a failure to give adequate attention to the communities a party is seeking to reach.

The billboard had been erected as part of the ANC’s campaign activities ahead of the local government elections. Its replacement suggests that the party has responded to the concerns surrounding the original signage, although no further details about the decision or the process behind the correction were provided in the supplied report.

With the provincial rally approaching, the ANC will be looking to focus attention on its campaign message and preparations for the elections rather than the controversy surrounding the billboard.

The Giyani incident serves as a reminder that even a small error in political communication can attract considerable attention when it touches on language, culture and local identity.

Source: https://x.com/mdnnewss/status/2113992743626182800?s=46

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