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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 with these social media posts were extremely troublesome. “We will ask the south African Humans Rights commission [SAHRC] for an immediate investigation.”
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“In addition, we will include these posts in the mass hate speech complaint that AfriForum will soon lay with the South African Police Service [SAPS],” Urlings said.
He added AfriForum would also consider the possibility of instituting civil litigations against the individuals responsible for these callous posts if the complaints with the SAHRC or police did not yield any results.
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Some of the screenshots AfriForum received following statements on social media 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,” by Twitter user @JabulaniKhesa.
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Savagéé (@KeNegroAkere) tweeted: “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.”
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Urlings said they would like to encourage these individuals and communities to come together and provide the necessary aid to all those affected by the recent and ongoing events, rather than spewing racism.
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