Facebook picture causes outcry
2011-08-28 11:58
Johannesburg - The Hawks are investigating a picture on Facebook in which a white man poses with a rifle over an apparently lifeless body of a black child, the Sunday Times reported on Sunday.
The image is on the profile of a user called, "Eugene Terrorblanche", a play on the name of the murdered Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB) leader.
"Terrorblanche" had 590 "friends" on the social networking site by Saturday.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa spokesperson Zweli Mnisi said the minister had ordered an immediate investigation and called on the man on the picture - or anyone who knows him - to come forward to assist in the probe.
"If, indeed, it reflects a real incident, those responsible must be severely punished."
Everyone partly responsible in the posting of the picture, or whoever created the profile and those who have seen it but failed to report it could face prosecution.
Child advocacy groups said the production and dissemination of the picture violated several laws.
*It has since emerged that the "story" first came to light in October 2008.
- SAPA
