AfriForum to report callous tweets to human rights body

The civil rights organisation AfriForum has denounced several racist posts in the wake of the natural disasters in the Western Cape and more specifically Knysna.

Campaign officer at AfriForum Guido Urlings said sentiments so openly expressed in the social media posts were extremely troublesome. “We will ask the South African Human Rights Commission for an immediate investigation. In addition, we will include these posts in the mass hate speech complaint that AfriForum will soon lay with the South African Police Service.”

He said AfriForum would consider instituting civil litigation against the individuals responsible for these callous posts if the complaints with the Humans Rights Commission or police did not yield any results.

Some of the screenshots AfriForum received include: “Dear white people what is happening with #KnysnaFire is called #Vutha and only black people can save you from it, just bring the land back.” This was written by Mathandazo Wabo Lova @JabulaniKhesa.

Savagéé @KeNegroAkere said: “I actually smiled when I saw that Knysna is going thru it all, ‘cause we all know what the majority of the population is there [emoji].”

Black_X (@Mhehlonmakulu) tweeted: “Dear Jesus please let the storm take a few white people, I’m kidding (emoji) not a few (emojis) #capestorm.”

Mlunguza Mthembu Luxolo wrote: “Pray this great #capestorm is here to take white people away to Europe. #WantOurLand.”

Urlings said they would like individuals and communities to come together and provide aid to all those affected by the events, rather than spewing racism.