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Two young women who went to war with racist tweets last week were all innocence today
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“We don’t have problems with each other, we don’t have problems with any race,” 22-year-old marketing student Tshidi Thamana said in Johannesburg after she met model Jessica Leandra dos Santos.
Democratic Alliance national spokesman Mmusi Maimane arranged a meeting with the two women at his home in Roodepoort.
The pair shook hands and posed for pictures.
“We just happened to be individuals that got very upset and very carried away in a tweet on social media and I think we are owning up to it today,” Thamana said.
Dos Santos, who started the spat with a racist tweet, said: “I didn’t realise the impact my tweet would have had on the people [it] offended. We do aim to reconcile and get the nation back to where it was”.
Maimane said: “Its been a journey for both Jess and for Tshidi...
“I felt we needed to give each of these girls an opportunity to communicate to each other and certainly to communicate to you out there”.
Maimane said he would write a letter to the Human Rights Commission containing evidence about the matter. Several people submitted complaints about the two women to the commission.
Dos Santos said further: “I am aware of the issues I caused for our nation, I am aware of the severity of the word I used.
“I do extend my sincere apologies for the incidents I caused.”
Thamana said: “I don’t wish death on anyone of any race... I just want to say to Jessica, I am really sorry abut wishing death on you and for everything that I’ve said”.
She added: “To South Africa as a whole, my apologies. I really didn’t mean any harm and if we have to do something to put the country where it was, we will do it”.
Ironically, the spat has raised Dos Santos's profile: When she started the spat with her racist tweet, she had 2,591 followers; now she has 7,263 followers.
During their function at the DA official's house, Dos Santos turned to Thamana and said: “Tshidi, I do apologise if the word I used offended you. It wasn’t intended to cover the entire black race, but rather at a certain individual that offended me in public”.
Thamana said: “We are here to apologise, not to pull a publicity stunt. In both our individual lives we don’t practise any racism”.
The women, who had not met until Thursday, said they could be friends, were not racists, and had not used such language in their tweets before.
“I can quite easily say that I’ve never used that word. It boiled [up] from a stress frustration and as I’ve learned, it’s an incorrect and unfortunate word that I’ve used. Today I’ve learned the severity behind it,” said Dos Santos.
Thamana chirped in: “That tweet was tweeted out of anger and when I was doing it, it felt right but it was wrong”.
When asked about previous tweets in her timeline referring to "African monkeys", Dos Santos replied: “I refer to myself as a monkey, my family as monkeys. I think what was written in my Tweets as 'African monkey' was taken out of context”.
The SA Human Rights Commission said on its website that racist and discriminatory speech on social media could undermine social relations.
“Ms dos Santos’ alleged remarks contribute to a disturbing pattern that seems to be taking place in the social media space, and has to be addressed.
“The commission is in the process of assessing all the complaints it has received and will afterwards communicate directly with all the parties.”
Maimane said he would write a letter to the commission containing evidence about the matter. Several people had submitted complaints about the two women to the commission.
- Meanwhile, an employee at security company Bidvest Magnum faces disciplinary action for posting alleged hate speech on Twitter.
“I’m very distressed about the comment and we shall institute an internal inquiry,” managing director David Crichton said.
Itumeleng Mabeba is accused of tweeting messages advocating violence against Jessica Leandra dos Santos [which Sowetan will not repeat here].
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Comments
somaartakeit
so is that how this maimane solve the obviously racist problem? and the DA feels proud about this why? ONLY IF there were real political alternatives the anc wldn't rub it on our faces that they will rule till Christ returns, judging by calibre of politics of the opposition no wonder the anc is confident in its arrogantly ruling us aground,Report Abuse
Papage
Does this meeting remove their guilt? The fact of the matter is they are racist, period, maybe it worked for you Maimane, not me, as far as i am concern they must be charged by human rights commission, like all those who comitted same crime.Report Abuse
dimpho_4U
yoh hai..enough with these two already!!Report Abuse
RobinH
Maimane said: “Its been a journey for both Jess and for Tshidi...and that "he would write a letter to the Human Rights Commission containing evidence about the matter".
How's this for a laugh. What journey, Maimane? The massive distance between being a complete racist arsehole to becoming a beacon of racial tolerance in three easy steps? Such deeply entrenched beliefs that lead one to respond in such nasty fashion almost subconsciously to such petty situations do not sommer dissolve after being exposed to that toothy fake smile. Do you honestly think we are that thick? As for "evidence" what evidence could you as a rank outsider presume to submit that might have any value at all? Character references from school principals? A letter from some or other pastor singing the praises for the sweet little whomever? Come now, Sir. As a political gambit this one is worthy of a Grade 1.
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1stepAtyme
@Papage could not have agreed with you more.We must empose the strongest possible sentence to anyone showing racial intolerance. Irrespective of his/her colour or creed.
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sakhomba
good for you ladies. after so much hard work of deliberations and articulations on the matter. I invite you to come rest on my ball's.Report Abuse
BaleliM
Oh please!! if this had not gone to paper, none of them would have had the decency to apologise. I despise pretense!!Report Abuse
Shwabada
Thank you for this PR stant. I know that these girls are still racist. Are they going to be taken to any counsilling?Report Abuse
somaartakeit
and that "he would write a letter to the Human Rights Commission containing evidence about the matter".------------------------------------------------------For a political solution maimane? goes to show that the so called born fr33 is a load of bullocks tauted by the DA cause they can't truly appreciate gains of the TRC process and the hard work (racial healing process) which had to take place, and is obvious to everyone taht such has not happened hence the underlying racist tones in the attitudes of the supposedly born fr33.
This maimane is fake and insult to our intelligence. Please God help SA to create a political alternative which will help us deal fair and honestly with our social issues so we can all find a resolution and way forward. Cause right now we have politicians insulting our pain (racial disharmony) and thinking its a big joke,
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sabza007
@BaleliMOh please!! if this had not gone to paper, none of them would have had the decency to apologise. I despise pretense!!
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I agree 110% with you .Since this Jessica chick has apologized, will the Sponsors revert their decisions ? My opinion is that they shouldn't re-instate her.
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