An urban legend, that apparently dates back to Dingaan's time, has moved into the technological era, after it started circulating via SMS.
The message is apparently based on a pamphlet, which calls on blacks to rise up and kill whites.
Yesterday, the Citizen newspaper reported the SMS was being circulated in Polokwane. It refers to a pamphlet that asks blacks to rise up and kill whites on Freedom Day, which was yesterday's public holiday in SA.
However, the paper version of the call to arms no longer exists, explains Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx, and author of several books on urban legends.
Goldstuck says this particular hoax dates back to when Dingaan fought and killed Piet Retief and his gang in 1838. Apparently, Dingaan shouted to “kill the wizards”, which was a euphemism for whites.
However, there is no record of that statement, and it has moved into history as an untraceable fact. Since then, the hoax has resurfaced several times.
Goldstuck says the “ancient” hoax has always appeared “at times of great political tension”. “It's not a great leap from Julius Malema saying 'kill the boer', to Eugene Terre'Blanche being murdered, to another 'kill the whites day'.”
However, this is the first time the hoax has made it onto the cellular platform, being circulated via SMS. In 1990, says Goldstuck, the pamphlet was being faxed around.
Two aspects of the SMS are giveaways when determining whether a scare SMS is real, says Goldstuck. The first is the disclaimer that it is not a hoax, and the second is that it asks people to send the message on to as many people as possible.
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