Former Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality mayor Athol Trollip has come under fire for his recent social media post, calling for government to celebrate the “important anniversary” of settlers' arrival in SA.
Trollip, who was commenting on the 200th anniversary of the arrival of 1820 settlers in Port Elizabeth, said he was a proud descendant of the settlers and the legacy their descendants have contributed to the country.
I wonder whether this important anniversary will celebrated or derided by our Government? I’m a proud descendant of the 1820 settlers and the legacy that their descendants have contributed to our country. History is history, it is what it is. https://t.co/OhKCH50Sms
— Athol Trollip (@AtholT) January 22, 2020
Supporting his tweet, he said: “I am who I am and I can’t and won’t deny where I come from.”
I’m not tweeting on behalf of political party! Read the tweet and you’ll see what I said not what you think I said. I said that I’m a proud descendant of the 1820 settlers. That’s what I said and that’s what I mean, I am who I am and I can’t and won’t deny where I come from.
— Athol Trollip (@AtholT) January 23, 2020
The 1820 settlers were several groups of British colonists settled by the government of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Cape Colony authorities in the Eastern Cape in 1820.
According to SA History, a year after the brutal battle of Makhanda (formerly known as Grahamstown), the 1820 settlers landed in Port Elizabeth, where they were granted farms and were given tools and aid against their deposit.
On social media, many, including Helen Zille, warned him “not to go there”.
Here is a screenshot of what people had to say.
Don't go there... I tried this line of argument once.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) January 23, 2020
Hebanna!! So this guy wants Government to celebrate the arrival of Settlers? We did very well to remove him as Mayor because he was found to be celebrating the nonsensical invasion of our land now. The further they stay away from political power the better! https://t.co/bamT7L6ivV
— Floyd Shivambu (@FloydShivambu) January 23, 2020
The sensitivity expressed in this tweet is stunning🥺 not everyone's experience of your ancestors arrival has been good, understand that and stop pandering to VF voters. Really disappointing from @Our_DA
— FREE_or_DOM (@FREEorDOM1) January 23, 2020
History is history . We are reminded the generosity of indegenious people resulted in the loss of ancesteral land and 300 years of oppression and exclusion. So thank you for your continued contribution but forgive me for not celebrating the arrival of your ancestors
— equitableaccess_russrensburg (@russ421) January 22, 2020
Your tweet has mobilized white and black apartheid apologists like gogo @helenzille into excitement. Nothing to celebrate about the arrival of people who subjugated anbd enslaved those they found on the land. It is 💩
— Sucker Punch (@MphiriWaboNgako) January 23, 2020
My problem with the descendants of the settlers is that you want to pick and choose what is to be associated with you from your forefathers. Don't only celebrate the good legacy, acknowledge also the dispossession of the natives, and returned to them what belongs to them.
— Ngwako Maphakela 🇧🇼 (@Ngwako_Hananwa) January 23, 2020
