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Cape Town - "The damage has been done."
This is what Democratic Alliance national spokesperson Mmusi Maimane has said in an open letter on the organisation's website about the recent racist tweets by models Jessica Leandra dos Santos and Tshidi Thamana.
The furore started on Thursday night when FHM Model winner Dos Santos posted the following update on her Twitter page:
"Just, well took on an arrogant and disrespectful kaffir inside Spar. Should have punched him, should have".
After a public outcry and withdrawals from sponsors, Jessica Leandra made an apology on her website which many said was "insincere".
On Sunday model Tshidi Thamana posted the following message on her Twitter account, which has now been deactivated:
"Dear Mr Peter Mokaba?… I wish all whites had been killed when you sang 'Kill the Boer', then we wouldn't have to experience @JessicaLeandra's racism [sic]."
She has since apologised for the tweet.
Offered his home
Maimane details the damage he feels has been caused by these tweets, writing: "Divisions are wider than they were before. The efforts of Nelson Mandela and so many others to reconcile our nation have been dealt a severe blow."
Further in the open letter, the DA spokesperson says he does not see Dos Santos and Thamana as "truly racist".
"I understand that we are all shaped to a greater or lesser extent by the environment we grow up in. I don't believe that either of you are truly racist – I think you just lost your way somewhere along the line."
Maimane even offered his home as a meeting place for the two models to reconcile.
"As role models, you now have an unprecedented opportunity to show South Africa what true reconciliation is all about. I believe you would do South Africa a great service if the two of you were to meet up and talk through your issues in person.
"I would be happy to host you both at my home."
Read the full letter here.
This is what Democratic Alliance national spokesperson Mmusi Maimane has said in an open letter on the organisation's website about the recent racist tweets by models Jessica Leandra dos Santos and Tshidi Thamana.
The furore started on Thursday night when FHM Model winner Dos Santos posted the following update on her Twitter page:
"Just, well took on an arrogant and disrespectful kaffir inside Spar. Should have punched him, should have".
After a public outcry and withdrawals from sponsors, Jessica Leandra made an apology on her website which many said was "insincere".
On Sunday model Tshidi Thamana posted the following message on her Twitter account, which has now been deactivated:
"Dear Mr Peter Mokaba?… I wish all whites had been killed when you sang 'Kill the Boer', then we wouldn't have to experience @JessicaLeandra's racism [sic]."
She has since apologised for the tweet.
Offered his home
Maimane details the damage he feels has been caused by these tweets, writing: "Divisions are wider than they were before. The efforts of Nelson Mandela and so many others to reconcile our nation have been dealt a severe blow."
Further in the open letter, the DA spokesperson says he does not see Dos Santos and Thamana as "truly racist".
"I understand that we are all shaped to a greater or lesser extent by the environment we grow up in. I don't believe that either of you are truly racist – I think you just lost your way somewhere along the line."
Maimane even offered his home as a meeting place for the two models to reconcile.
"As role models, you now have an unprecedented opportunity to show South Africa what true reconciliation is all about. I believe you would do South Africa a great service if the two of you were to meet up and talk through your issues in person.
"I would be happy to host you both at my home."
Read the full letter here.
