Caster supporters respond to nasty UK column
SUPPORT for star athlete Caster Semenya became a trending topic on social media at the weekend as users expressed disgust at a disparaging column on a British news website.
It was posted on the eve of Semenya grabbing gold and an SA record in the 800m final of the IAAF World Championships in London late last night.
On Friday, Mail Online columnist Katy Hopkins wrote: “Back in January Caster even married her girlfriend in a traditional wedding ceremony, appearing in the guise of a man. Yet, curiously enough, out here on the track, Semenya identifies as a woman.”
Hopkins repeated these sentiments in several social media posts, including one stating: “Huge congratulations to the British girls. Real women, really strong.”
Hopkins is a controversial media personality in Britain and was asked to leave London-based radio station LBC after controversial comments in May this year when she called for a “final solution” following the Manchester terrorist attack in which 22 people were killed and dozens injured.
Shortly after her column with the reference to Semenya was published, the tweets from South Africa started flying.
Gender activist Nomboniso Gasa was blunt: “Dear @KTHopkins, let me repeat what I said to others. You can spew as much homophobic garbage as you wish but you won’t hurt @cast-er800m.”
Top Chef judge Lesego Semenya tweeted: “Dear Life, please when I grow up, grant me the grace and strength that Caster Semenya has.”
Current Police Minister and former minister of sport and recreation Fikile Mbalula re-tweeted writer Sure Kamhunga’s comment on a picture of Semenya: “If in Mzanzi [retweet] for appreciation.”
Algoa FM radio presenter Wayne Hart tweeted: “I am battling to understand the point in this tweet. You’re a PR machine for hate!”