''For those claiming the legacy of the Holocaust was only negative, think about the lampshades and Jewish soap." When I first heard about Andile Mngxitama’s rancid tweet, I assumed he’d written it while drunk. I know he’s got some privilege issues, but it seemed inconceivable that someone with a master’s degree from a decent university could wittingly say something so monumentally tasteless, offensive and stupid. I didn’t expect an apology, but I figured that when full lucidity returned, he’d feel a bit awkward and issue some kind of qualification. It turns out that Mngxitama was not only entirely sober when he filed his bilious piece, but that he composed it with substantial forethought. He was due in court the same day to press for the prosecution of Helen Zille and this was his considered attempt to publicly illuminate the contest. And how do I know this? Because, far from disavowing what he’d said, Mngxitama doubled down on his position in the intervening fortnight. He is now on...
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