Woman in cage on bakkie – racist incident or storm in a teacup?

19 January 2017 - 19:03 By Shenaaz Jamal
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The social media jury is out on the version of events that led to a black woman being transported in a cage on the back of a bakkie.

Linda Steenkamp was photographed in the cage in the back of the bakkie near Cradock in the Eastern Cape and the image caused a stir on social media as people speculated whether the bakkie driver was racist or she had been locked up for committing a crime.

Johan Erasmus‚ the driver of the Isuzu bakkie‚ told The Times that there was no space in the passenger seat for her and that the woman "climbed into the thing herself".

  • WATCH: Woman at centre of 'bakkie cage' saga speaks outLinda Steenkamp‚ the woman who sat in a sheep cage at the back of a bakkie‚ went on camera to say she chose to sit there because it was extremely hot‚ she needed a lift and wanted to sit in the wind. 

Steenkamp said she needed the lift and chose to sit there because it was hot. A video later posted by eBlockwatch seemed to confirm this story‚ but social media users were not buying it. Some have gone as far as saying she was coached and made to rehearse her version.

Kgomotso Motong wrote on Facebook:"Haibo!! I'd lie too being interviewed like that‚ and the white woman holding my shoulder. I didn't even finish watching the video you can just tell it was rehearsed. Poor woman."

  • I sat at the back because it was hot‚ says woman photographed in cageLinda Steenkamp‚ the woman who sat in a sheep cage at the back of a bakkie‚ says she chose to sit there because it was extremely hot‚ she needed a lift and wanted to sit in the wind. 

DjVovo Wale Sandawana also wasn't convinced. "Still not convinced‚ maybe another video proving she was not under any duress or coached may help. can't accept that explaining from someone who still refers to a white male as Baas??"

Twitter users meanwhile have rubbished the idea the woman sat in the cage willingly.

 

While the debate is ongoing others seem to regard it as a storm in a teacup.

- TMG Digital/The Times

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