Somizi apologises for ‘racist whites’ remarks

Somizi Mhlongo has taken to his Instagram to apologise for the remarks he made about “racist white South Africans“, saying he did not mean to offend anyone.

Somizi made the remarks in light of the Zuma Must Fall marches which took place last week Wednesday on Day of Reconciliation. The marches were calling for President Jacob Zuma to step down after removing Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister and replacing him with David van Rooyen. Van Rooyen was again removed from his position and replaced with former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Somizi Mhlongo took to his Instagram to voice his opinion on “racist white South Africans hoping that Zuma’s fall will give them a white president or bring back apartheid”. He says their hopes are “a true denial of the reality.”

Somizi goes on to explain the impossibilities of it happening as that of US presidency hopeful Donald Trump winning the presidency or Oscar Pistorius believing he’ll one day take part in the Olympics.

In their disagreement, some said it was wrong of Somizi to “assume” all white South Africans want apartheid to come back or a white president. They lashed at him for “making the march a race issue” and using a picture of the march that took place in Cape Town because it showed predominantly white people “to turn the march into a race thing”.

On Sunday, Somizi again went to his Instagram to apologise for those remarks. In the post, he says everyone in South Africa has the right to express themselves. He says he does not have a problem with white people taking part in the march, his issue is the old South African flag being part of the march. “Racism in any form or demonstration should not be allowed,” he said.

He then apologised, saying: “I did not mean to offend anyone and would like to sincerely apologise to those I have offended.”