Johannesburg - Social activist Yusuf Abramjee found himself at the receiving end of a Twitter offensive on Sunday during which he was accused of being an apartheid spy and a contender for the position of national police commissioner.
The Twitter war, under the hashtag #DearYusuf, appeared to be in response to the LeadSA and Crime Line founder’s #DearMrPresident, the open letter he wrote to Jacob Zuma last week bemoaning the high levels of crime.
The insults trended for most of the day, becoming vicious, personal and racist, before people started hitting back against some of the most visible architects of the campaign.
Abramjee was unfazed. He said he had been labelled a racist, a DA supporter and an apartheid spy and was accused of having friends in the top echelons of the ANC and of being against Zuma.
“It’s laughable. I won’t be sidetracked by these Twitter bullies, who are malicious, narrow-minded and who make false and defamatory statements. Let’s stand up and continue to fight for what is right. Let’s create a safer South Africa. These attention-seekers do not appear to be concerned about our country and the millions who are living in fear and being terrorised by criminals. Instead of doing something, they point fingers and complain. Some have even resorted to threats. It’s disgusting and they should be ashamed.”
Abramjee said he had been touched by the positive response his letter to the president had garnered. “Thank you to the thousands of fellow South Africans who have send messages of support and are committed to fighting crime.”
The Star
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