Dutch newspaper links death to ‘racist’ festival

A DUTCH newspaper has apologised for making a “distasteful link” between the death of Nelson Mandela and “Black Pete”, or Zwarte Piet, Santa’s blackened helper during traditional Sinterklaas celebrations that began on Thursday.

The article on the De Telegraaf website was a compilation of reactions to Mandela’s death.

It began: “There have been reactions abroad and in the Netherlands to the death of Nelson Mandela, which happened, of all things, on Sinterklaas evening (with Zwarte Piet).”

Zwarte Piet, a white person dressed in servant’s livery with a blackened face, curly wig and redpainted lips, takes part in the traditional Dutch Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus, festivities on December 5.

“This should never have happened,” the paper’s editor-in-chief said about the article, which was accidentally published.

“It is never appropriate to make jokes about sad events such as the death of people. Even if they are never intended for publication, there is a risk this might happen.”

In mid-November, Sinterklaas, who is white, arrives by steamboat in Amsterdam, bringing presents for children, helped by his mischievous blackened servant.

A letter from the UN’s human rights body in October warned the Dutch that the character was a “racist stereotype”.

“People in the Netherlands cannot see that this is a throwback to slavery and that, in the 21st century, this practice should stop,” said Verene Shepherd, chairwoman of the UN investigation into the Sinterklaas festival.