South African Consulate in Auckland? Protestors and media confused
Media didn’t seem to know better than a group of paint-throwing protestors when reporting an attack on the "South African Consulate" in Auckland.
More than 60 protestors paint bombed a building in the leafy Auckland suburb of Epsom on Saturday after ANC government troops shot dead 34 striking mine-workers.
The building attacked was Epsom law firm Stafford Klaassen.
But that is not what TV3 reported when the story led its news bulletin that night.
“Protesters have attacked the South African Consulate building in Auckland,” news presenter Simon Shepherd announced.
“They used paint bombs to splatter the walls and windows and stuck a letter on the door for South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma.”
Self-styled activist John Minto – better remembered as a pro-black anti-tour wrecker – was interviewed: “We’ve turned up here to send a message of absolute disgust to Jacob Zuma because we hold him responsible for this massacre.”
Stafford Klaassen lets the Consulate of the Republic of South Africa use its meeting room from time to time.
Honorary consul Jock Irvine is a former partner of Simpson Grierson.
The South African High Commission, however, is in Wellington.
Mr Minto has denied responsibility for the vandalism of Stafford Klaassen's building.
The firm has made a complaint to the police.
Meanwhile, it is left wondering who will clean the paint off its walls.
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Comments and questions15
And I hold John Minto responsible for this matter.
I know who i'd be more scared of.
If the quote attributed to Minto is correct, then there is no question that he was a party to vandalism. I wonder if he and / or others will be held to account?
Given Mr Minto's past involvement in putting Mr Zuma in his current position I think it is just fair that he also pay ( by cleaning up the paintball mess) for the failure that is at the root of the problem.
Of course Minto should pay - he has acknowledged being there and sending the message. As usual Minto has jumped in without engaging the brain.
Yep Minto (and Bradford and Hone) all deserve a good smacking between the ears with some common sense.
Clearly they don't have any - but they can find some here at http://www.national.org.nz/
There - fixed it for ya...
the idiot minto needs to understand that the more things change, the more they stay the same....turbulent changes do not affect reality on a deeper level other than to cement the status quo.
Minto is sad little man. His life has amounted to absolutely nothing. It is rather ironic that he now is protesting againts the very people that he so vigorously supported in his misguided youth!
Did they use Black or White paint?- might show their true colours
Disgraceful!
Pro-black? Nailing your colours to the mast there, Georgina.
"pro-black" ?? classy.
I'm bemused that being anti-apartheid and opposing the 1981 tour (sorry, "pro-black anti-tour wrecker") is still viewed as a bad thing by some people.
Although I have a sneaky suspicion that if such opinions were those of the majority, Key would suddenly recall which side he was on in '81.
Is this the same Minto who was infuriated when black people in South Africa told him life was better under apartheid separatism politics than under his beloved ANC freedom fighters. Is this the same Minto who supports Maori separatism in New Zealand, but can't bring himself to call it apartheid? I always knew he was confused and upset that his beloved USSR and it's socialist policies failed completely, and now he proves just how dumb he and his supporters are when they can't even figure out where the South African High Commission is based! Who funds his lifestyle?
Hey John, you should not be such a turn-coat. You claimed to support us when we were fighting for our freedom. Now you criticise because of what? Why don't you come and support our miners in Rustenburg, or are you just like impimpi, lots of talk, but you run away when you have to show your real colours?