Controversial X Account Operator ‘Goolammv’ Mohammed Vawda Found Dead in Sandton Hotel Ahead of Arrest

Mohammed Suliman Vawda, the man widely identified as the operator of the controversial X (formerly Twitter) account @Goolammv, has been found dead in his room at a luxury hotel in Sandton, South Africa, just hours before police were set to arrest him on multiple criminal charges.

According to sources cited by The Star, police officers arrived at the hotel along 5 Benmore Road at around 9:30am on Tuesday, intending to take the 50-year-old into custody on charges including fraud, cyberbullying, hate speech, and publishing defamatory content linked to his online activities.

However, upon entering his room, officers found Vawda lying unresponsive. Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene, but he was pronounced dead at the hotel.

Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed that an inquest docket has been opened, adding that the exact cause of death remains unknown pending a postmortem examination.

Vawda was publicly unmasked in July 2024 following an investigation by Independent Media, which linked him to the once-anonymous X account that had, for years, targeted politicians, journalists, government officials, and business leaders with inflammatory posts. The account was frequently accused of spreading hate speech, cyber harassment, and manipulating public opinion.

Despite several complaints being lodged against him  including a crimen injuria case opened by former Minister of Human Settlements Lindiwe Sisulu  Vawda had not previously been arrested, a situation that drew criticism over delays in addressing digital abuse and online crimes.

Police say investigations into both the circumstances surrounding Vawda’s death and the criminal cases linked to his activities are still ongoing.

MDNNews