SA Facebook users have little empathy for riot-hit UK
Published
A man clears up in a supermarket in Ealing in west London yesterday. A man clears up in a supermarket in Ealing in west London yesterday.
South African Facebook users had little empathy for the riot-hit United Kingdom today, if their posts and status updates are anything to go by.
Several sniggered and “liked” posts about South Africa issuing a travel warning to the UK, on the fifth day of riots there.
The riots have been described as the worst in decades and have seen hundreds arrested and at least 111 police officers injured.
“Ha! Ha! SA has issued a travel warning for the UK,” a South African commented, adding a while later: “Well, it's a hell of a lot more dangerous over there than here, for once!”
Within minutes the post was “liked” by several users and had attracted many comments, some making fun of UK Prime Minister David Cameron ordering police to come down hard on looters by using water cannons.
A South African living in Northfields, in west London, wrote that the protesters needed to “eat rubber bullets”.
Another suggested send SA police chief General Bheki Cele, known for his “shoot-to-kill” comments, to the UK.
“Watched a British Conservative MP on TV saying the police should now consider bringing in water canon to stop the London violence. And only if essential should they use plastic rounds. What whooses (sic).
“In SA the police start with rubber bullets and get to live rounds as soon as possible. Let's send Bheki Cele to the UK.”
Another person living in London wrote: “I want to say something and I am going to say it. It is because these children are being raised with kid gloves and without a good hiding. Viva South African parents!”
She felt like jumping in herself to give the protesting children a good smack.
A friend replied: “I have long offered to send my mom over. She will sort out their problems in one day and those ‘snot neuse (brats)’ will be sorry.”
Typically South African, some were already spotting new opportunities.
“SA stands ready to host the Olympics if London is too politically unstable. We have some left over stadiums and a train we don't know how to use!,” a man said.
Referring to looters communicating with their Blackberry phones, another South African remarked: “So BBM (Blackberry messaging) was used extensively for communication between the rioters/looters.
“If you lot can afford Blackberries, sod off until you have some real problems to 'protest' about!” - Sapa