South Africans are sport crazy and rivalries between fandoms can get fierce when it comes to inter-provincial competitions. But when athletes don the green and gold to represent South Africa on the world stage – we know how to stand together.
It becomes a case of “if you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us”. When Chad Le Clos was targeted by cyber bullies after losing to Michael Phelps, South Africans got hot under the collar.
Read more: American Phelps fans are being seriously mean to Chad Le Clos online
Now that the internet has our star athlete Caster Semenya in its crosshairs – we’re not just hot under the collar but downright furious.
In 2009, 18-year-old Caster suffered the ultimate humiliation when she underwent tests to determine her gender.
The replies to that rubbish Sports Illustrated tweet about Caster Semenya made my morning#HandsOffCaster pic.twitter.com/ExnofkdkPR — Blocking Champion (@Neo_url) August 13, 2016
The painful thing about the #CasterSemenya criticism is that dismiss it, ignore it/deride it - she's at the receiving end of cruelty period. — Brenda Wardle (@BrendaWardle) August 13, 2016
Ask yourself this - why is Caster Semenya still on trial? https://t.co/M23nQFB6Nq — Mandy Wiener (@MandyWiener) August 12, 2016
Malcolm @Gladwell should rather spend 10 000 hours energising his tired Afro #HandsOffCaster pic.twitter.com/HtTNuMzHzJ — Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) August 13, 2016
When SA Twitter lands at the #RioOlympics2016 to say #HandsOffCaster. pic.twitter.com/2fTrFC8Cny — Mweli Masilela (@mwelimasilela) August 13, 2016
If Bruce (Caitlyn) Jenner can be on the cover of @VanityFair magazine & talk about women's issues then please #HandsOffCaster #CasterSemenya — #YALI_LearnsJHB (@LethaboSekele) August 13, 2016
She's a woman. Simple. #HandsOffCaster — Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) August 13, 2016
Thank you! She has done nothing wrong. #HandsOffCasterSemenya #HandsOffCaster https://t.co/uuhNnNhQrG — Liesl Frankson (@LieslFrankson) August 13, 2016
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. #CasterSemenya #HandsOffCaster pic.twitter.com/1RGrZVi4wJ — Sumish (@sumishin112) August 13, 2016
No one ever questioned Serena Williams's success and performance so why start with our caster semenya?. #HandsOffCaster — #TeamCasterRio16 (@saneleacquisto1) August 13, 2016
Caster Semenya ready to out-run her cynics https://t.co/eZ4t6W8yxu pic.twitter.com/1ArW2DP5UU — Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) August 13, 2016
Guys please tag me on anyone speaking sideways on Caster. It's time we also forget our manners — Anele Mdoda (@Anele) August 12, 2016
pic.twitter.com/oHyeoCUCzH — Caster Semenya (@caster800m) August 12, 2016
Great Idea - let's all go #teamCaster pic.twitter.com/2wOWpAWxjU — RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) August 13, 2016
Race times #CasterSemenya #HandsOffCaster #TeamCaster #TeamSA #Rio2016 Expecting millions of SA'ns to watch live pic.twitter.com/mmCMviy49R — South African Heroes (@SA_Heroes) August 13, 2016
