ANC hits back at Oscar’s dad

AP

Murder accused Oscar Pistorius's father Henke Pistorius.

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Johannesburg - The ANC has rejected “with contempt” the accusation made by murder accused Oscar Pistorius’s father that "the ANC government is not willing to protect white South Africans".

“Not only is this statement devoid of truth, it is also racist,” ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said in a statement on Tuesday.

Pistorius faces a murder charge after shooting dead his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Henke Pistorius reportedly told a British newspaper that the country’s lawlessness and high crime rate had forced his son to arm himself.

Henke Pistorius spoke to The Telegraph’s journalist over the weekend about the guns he and his son own.

“Some of the guns are for hunting and some are for protection, the handguns,” he was quoted as saying.

“It speaks to the ANC government, look at white crime levels, why protection is so poor in this country, it’s an aspect of our society.”

Mthembu responded by saying:

”It is sad that he has chosen to politicize a tragic incident that is still fresh in the minds of those affected and the public.

“This tragic incident has affected two families that are still trying to come to terms with what happened and this latest racist slur is not assisting these families.

“We think it is ill-advisable for anyone to start apportioning undue blame.”

Earlier

on Tuesday, Oscar’s uncle Arnold Pistorius said Henke’s comments did not represent the views of Oscar Pistorius and his family.

“The Pistorius family owns weapons purely for sport and hunting purposes,” Arnold Pistorius he said in the statement, which was issued by Vuma Reputation Management.

“Oscar and the rest of the Pistorius family distances itself from the comments. Henke's interview with the newspaper was unapproved by our media liaison team,” he said. - IOL, Sapa