Helen Zille on ‘racist’ rugby video: 'Context is everything'
Former DA leader Helen Zille has weighed in on a “racist” rugby video that made waves on social media at the weekend.
On Friday, the Springboks' 49-3 Rugby World Cup victory over Italy sparked a racial debate in SA after TV cameras caught six white players appearing to exclude the team's winger, Makazole Mapimpi, from their celebrations.
Mapimpi, who initially looked to join the group, walked away, looking dismissive.
Some social media users, including Ekurhuleni executive mayor Mzwandile Masina, suggested Mapimpi was excluded for racial reasons.
However, TimesLIVE reported that Mapimpi said he'd seen the video and provided clarity on what happened.
Speaking in isiXhosa and English, he said: “Basically what happens after each game is that we shake hands with the opposition. As we were completing the handshakes, the bomb squad was coming together to do their call or chant.
“As I was walking towards them, I realised that they were about to do their call and that I wasn’t part of it, so I decided that I needed to move away.
“I wasn’t part of it, but there was nothing wrong there with what they were doing. We are united as a team.”
Zille weighs in
On Twitter, Zille said Mapimpi's explanation illustrated that “context is everything”.
“The optics of this video were awful — but here Mapimpi explains why the bench 'bomb-squad' was celebrating on its own, and why he — as a 'main player' — was legitimately not part of the bomb squad,” she said.