Mahikeng – In an incident that underscores the perils of digital communication in the political arena, a municipal mayor in North West has been granted special leave following the inadvertent sharing of a private video on a provincial party platform.
Norah Mahlangu, the Executive Mayor of Tswaing Local Municipality in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, has stepped away from her duties for one month after an intimate recording was mistakenly posted to the African National Congress (ANC) provincial WhatsApp group .
The Incident
According to sources familiar with the matter, the video, which was not intended for public distribution, captures Mahlangu in a private moment. The footage, reportedly meant for her partner, was accidentally disseminated to the broader party group, which includes numerous ANC members across the North West province .
The mayor has been deeply affected by the breach of privacy. Colleagues report that she has fallen into depression following the leak and subsequent public scrutiny, with some party members reportedly subjecting her to derogatory remarks . Her last public appearance before taking leave was at the funeral of two municipal workers who tragically died while clearing a drainage system in Agisanang township .
Tswaing Speaker Sam Letlakane confirmed that Mahlangu, “profoundly traumatized” by the incident, required time away from office to recover from the emotional toll .
Allegations of Blackmail and Political Motives
While the exact circumstances of the leak remain under investigation, sources suggest the video was originally sent to an intimate partner. According to reports, when Mahlangu allegedly refused to comply with financial demands, the individual reportedly shared the footage with political rivals in what appears to be an attempt to compromise her re-election prospects in upcoming municipal polls .
The Hidden Dangers of Digital Intimacy
This incident serves as a stark reminder that in an era of end-to-end encryption, the greatest vulnerability in digital communication often remains human error and trust. While WhatsApp messages are protected in transit, once delivered, recipients retain permanent copies that can be forwarded, screenshotted, or downloaded .
Security experts warn that even platform privacy features offer limited protection. A recent security analysis revealed that WhatsApp’s “View Once” feature—designed for ephemeral messaging—contains vulnerabilities. Researchers demonstrated that media shared through this function could be circumvented on the web version of the application, with backend URLs allowing download and decryption of supposedly temporary content .
“WhatsApp’s View Once is a blunt form of false privacy in which users are led to believe some forms of communication are private when, in fact, they are not,” security researcher Tal Be’ery noted following his discovery of the flaw .
Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has acknowledged these limitations, stating they are “in the process of rolling out updates” while emphasizing that users should “only send view once messages to people they know and trust” .
Digital Citizenship for Public Figures
For public officials, the intersection of personal privacy and public accountability presents unique challenges. Digital communication carries permanence that many users underestimate. Once an image or video is transmitted, control over its distribution is effectively surrendered .
The incident raises important questions about:
Consent and control: Recipients maintain permanent copies of shared media, creating inherent privacy risks
Context collapse: Messages intended for intimate partners can resurface in professional or public contexts
Digital literacy: Understanding platform limitations is essential, particularly for individuals in public life
Political Fallout and Support
The ANC has not issued an official statement regarding the incident, though party insiders indicate concern for Mahlangu’s wellbeing. Colleagues within the municipality have expressed solidarity with the embattled mayor, emphasizing her dedication to public service amid ongoing water infrastructure challenges in the region .
Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Sello Seitlholo had recently accompanied Mahlangu on oversight visits to address water provisioning concerns in Tswaing, describing infrastructure vandalism as a “deliberate sabotage” by individuals with access to information and resources .
Looking Forward
As Mahlangu takes necessary time for recovery, the incident serves as a cautionary tale for public figures navigating digital communication. The convergence of personal privacy, political rivalry, and technological vulnerability creates an environment where momentary lapses can have lasting professional consequences.
For now, the municipality continues operations under established protocols, with council leadership expressing hope for Mahlangu’s return after her leave period concludes. The broader conversation, however, extends beyond one official’s experience to fundamental questions about privacy, security, and the boundaries between personal and public life in an increasingly connected world.
