‘Clifton the Sheep’ sets social media abuzz as SA reacts

WHILE CLIFTON Fourth Beach has been the centre of a tense dispute, many South Africans couldn’t resist responding to the latest development with humour on social media.

The saga began when private security firm Professional Protection Alternatives removed beachgoers from the beach at sunset, citing a security concern. ANC provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs was there with his family, and subsequently organised a protest to hit back against being asked to leave.

#ReclaimClifton protesters dragged a live sheep on to the beach which they slaughtered, claiming it was a traditional ritual to symbolically cleanse Clifton of racism.

While the freedoms at stake here are serious, many South Africans couldn’t resist responding with humour.

The slaughtered animal soon became known online as Clifton the Sheep, and many thanked him for his sacrifice.

Clifton the Sheep even has his own Twitter account, describing himself as an activist, and “the first sheep to go to heaven via ancestors”.

“This must go down as the most famous slaughter,” said Twitter user @ anele_majova.

“Can we slaughter a sheep at the JSE too?” asked @just_fentse21

Supporters found it hypocritical that people complained about slaughtering sheep.

“Western moral logic in South Africa is crying about a slaughtered sheep while you sit in your estate that’s displaced hundreds of animal species or eat a medium rare steak at a Camps Bay restaurant,” wrote @ MfundoRadebe.