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Sunette Bridges, human rights campaigner
Sunette Bridges, South African human rights campaigner
has been highly critical of the powerful South African
press group NASPERS over the group’s policy on non
reporting of human rights abuses, murders and torture
of white minority members in South Africa. Now
FACEBOOK is also helping to keep her message out of
the public arena.
has been highly critical of the powerful South African
press group NASPERS over the group’s policy on non
reporting of human rights abuses, murders and torture
of white minority members in South Africa. Now
FACEBOOK is also helping to keep her message out of
the public arena.
Since the beginning of 2012 Ms Bridges has been keeping a record of attacks
and murders, most of which of go unreported by the mainstream press in South
Africa and posting them on FACEBOOK.
and murders, most of which of go unreported by the mainstream press in South
Africa and posting them on FACEBOOK.
FACEBOOK has reacted to complaints, thought to originate from NASPERS
and ANC supporters, by deleting her group page and even editing her
personal page. She has been under fire since she started publishing the
attacks which are proving to be an embarrassment to the ANC
Government.
and ANC supporters, by deleting her group page and even editing her
personal page. She has been under fire since she started publishing the
attacks which are proving to be an embarrassment to the ANC
Government.
The current controversy is thought to have started when another popular singer,
Steve Hofmeyer published an article titled “ My Tribe is Dying like Flies”.
Steve Hofmeyer published an article titled “ My Tribe is Dying like Flies”.
This sparked off a "Boycott Naspers" movement on Facebook which was
established on Monday 1 June 2013. The membership numbers jumped to
over 7,000 in less than a week to close to 223 by 28 July. Others who have
been active in the publishing of victim’s names and criticism of the ANC and
NASPERS have also been in the firing line with smear campaigns and even
threats directed at their lives.
established on Monday 1 June 2013. The membership numbers jumped to
over 7,000 in less than a week to close to 223 by 28 July. Others who have
been active in the publishing of victim’s names and criticism of the ANC and
NASPERS have also been in the firing line with smear campaigns and even
threats directed at their lives.
FACEBOOK has also closed another well known campaigner’s page but it is
thought Ms. Bridges, who avoids publishing gruesome pictures but simply
keeps a note of basic details of victims is coming in for a more concerted
attack to muzzle her because of her popularity. She is the daughter of a well
loved local music icon, Bless Bridges who died in 2000 and is regarded by
many as a symbol of the Afrikaaner nation. Sunette Bridges is perceived as
a brave, outspoken, caring person who is deeply troubled by the relentless
slaughter of her people and the fact that it is being covered up, not only
by the ruling party but by the press supposedly representing her own
people.
thought Ms. Bridges, who avoids publishing gruesome pictures but simply
keeps a note of basic details of victims is coming in for a more concerted
attack to muzzle her because of her popularity. She is the daughter of a well
loved local music icon, Bless Bridges who died in 2000 and is regarded by
many as a symbol of the Afrikaaner nation. Sunette Bridges is perceived as
a brave, outspoken, caring person who is deeply troubled by the relentless
slaughter of her people and the fact that it is being covered up, not only
by the ruling party but by the press supposedly representing her own
people.
Ms. Bridges has been a thorn in the side of the ANC bringing to light the fact
that over 69 000 white South Africans have been brutally murdered since
1994 mostly in racially motivated hate killings. Well over 4000 white
commercial farmers have been murdered in the same period. It is
noteworthy that The attackers seldom spare anyone - even children, babies
and the elderly are tortured, raped, castrated, mutilated and often dismembered
while still alive - even family pets are mutilated. In some cases, only a few articles
are stolen, often - nothing.
that over 69 000 white South Africans have been brutally murdered since
1994 mostly in racially motivated hate killings. Well over 4000 white
commercial farmers have been murdered in the same period. It is
noteworthy that The attackers seldom spare anyone - even children, babies
and the elderly are tortured, raped, castrated, mutilated and often dismembered
while still alive - even family pets are mutilated. In some cases, only a few articles
are stolen, often - nothing.
For the past 17 months Ms. Bridges has put
names, dates and details to the statistics which
is attracting attention to the plight of her people.
names, dates and details to the statistics which
is attracting attention to the plight of her people.
The NASPERS group was founded in Cape Town in 1915 and is the largest
media company in Africa. The group has interests in Internet, Pay TV,
Newspapers, Magazines, Books and is very powerful with increasing interests
around the world. In 2006, NASPERS invested 422 million USD in the Brazilian
media company Abril S.A. The company also has an ADR listing on the London
Stock Exchange (LSE). In 2012 the online retail division of the group, Kalhari
reported well over a billion USD in revenue for just 6 months.
media company in Africa. The group has interests in Internet, Pay TV,
Newspapers, Magazines, Books and is very powerful with increasing interests
around the world. In 2006, NASPERS invested 422 million USD in the Brazilian
media company Abril S.A. The company also has an ADR listing on the London
Stock Exchange (LSE). In 2012 the online retail division of the group, Kalhari
reported well over a billion USD in revenue for just 6 months.
NASPERS own Code of Ethics lays out a clear set of guidelines for business
practices and employees but there is a noticeable lack of any reference to
ethical reporting. It does however state that “Through its various operations,
the group wants to be useful to the communities it serves and use its expertise
to that end”. There is clearly a dim view taken of any community that does not
want to be served by the group.
practices and employees but there is a noticeable lack of any reference to
ethical reporting. It does however state that “Through its various operations,
the group wants to be useful to the communities it serves and use its expertise
to that end”. There is clearly a dim view taken of any community that does not
want to be served by the group.
In South Africa it is virtually impossible to make economic headway
without embracing the ANC’s BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) rules
which basically exclude white males from the job market. This policy has resulted
in well over a half a million whites becoming destitute and recently the
ANC prohibited any companies from offering these people food aid.
NASPERS has enthusiastically implemented these policies although,
interestingly the senior management is made up of white males only.
without embracing the ANC’s BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) rules
which basically exclude white males from the job market. This policy has resulted
in well over a half a million whites becoming destitute and recently the
ANC prohibited any companies from offering these people food aid.
NASPERS has enthusiastically implemented these policies although,
interestingly the senior management is made up of white males only.
NASPERS is also in complete compliance with ANC policy of under
reporting black on white violence and the group’s highlighting of the
rare incidences of the reverse have not gone un noticed by the white minority.
To this end Ms. Bridges took particular offence to an article in a NASPERS’
paper in response to her listings that claimed that white women in South
Africa have more to fear from their husbands and boyfriends. She
countered this with a detailed list of 55 white women who were
brutally murdered by unknown black males since 15 May 2012 to
8 June 2013. Murders that were not reported in the NASPERS press.
These include numerous horrific cases that, in any other country would make
headlines – reports of elderly women being gang raped, tortured and
hacked to death.
reporting black on white violence and the group’s highlighting of the
rare incidences of the reverse have not gone un noticed by the white minority.
To this end Ms. Bridges took particular offence to an article in a NASPERS’
paper in response to her listings that claimed that white women in South
Africa have more to fear from their husbands and boyfriends. She
countered this with a detailed list of 55 white women who were
brutally murdered by unknown black males since 15 May 2012 to
8 June 2013. Murders that were not reported in the NASPERS press.
These include numerous horrific cases that, in any other country would make
headlines – reports of elderly women being gang raped, tortured and
hacked to death.
The surprise is not that Ms. Bridges is under attack by the powerful, pro
ANC NASPERS but by FACEBOOK. A close look at FACEBOOK’s rules
does not shed any light on why Ms. Bridges’ group page should have been
deleted. It also does not outline any ethical policy that FACEBOOK should
adhere to with regards the allowing of the publication of facts concerning
what has been deemed by the US organization, Genocide Watch to be a
stage 6 genocide of the white minority in SA.
ANC NASPERS but by FACEBOOK. A close look at FACEBOOK’s rules
does not shed any light on why Ms. Bridges’ group page should have been
deleted. It also does not outline any ethical policy that FACEBOOK should
adhere to with regards the allowing of the publication of facts concerning
what has been deemed by the US organization, Genocide Watch to be a
stage 6 genocide of the white minority in SA.
Clearly this feisty woman who has a heart for the survival of her people is
up against some very powerful opponents – both government and commercial.
These opponents, for a variety of self serving reasons do not want the
world to know the truth of what is going on in South Africa. Sadly
FACEBOOK is all too happy to join in this scandalous activity and dictate
what they think a section of their billion member users should and should not know.
up against some very powerful opponents – both government and commercial.
These opponents, for a variety of self serving reasons do not want the
world to know the truth of what is going on in South Africa. Sadly
FACEBOOK is all too happy to join in this scandalous activity and dictate
what they think a section of their billion member users should and should not know.
Africadesk is based in Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, and is a Stringer for Allvoices.
