Statement by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General and member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
11 August 2021
The GOOD Party has written to Deputy Speaker of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature, Beverley Schafer (DA), for an explanation about her apparent association to a threatening group of anti-poor misogynists.
On Friday, Schafer announced she will be a presiding officer at the Western Cape’s one-day Women’s Parliament being held under the theme: Placing the Dignity and Innate Rights of Women in the Spotlight.
Schafer is a prominent member of S-Connect Women, a subgroup of the S-Group founded by billionaire Robert Hersov.
According to the sgroupholdings.co.za website, the S-Group “is an invitation-only connectivity WhatsApp business networking group, with over 80 subgroups that cater to the different business needs of over 2500 seriously well-connected and influential members all over the world”.
Last month, GOOD Secretary-General Brett Herron, a member of the Western Cape legislature, received screenshots of correspondence in a WhatsApp Group, called “S-Connect CT & Winelands”, evidently posted by Hersov.
“Does anyone know a Shelley Finch,” he asks? This is followed by a screengrab of a Facebook profile for a Shelley Finch. Then a comment, “looks like the evil bitch we want to find. Do you know this monster”?
The S-Connect Women website state’s the groups’ mission as: “Providing a platform for women to support, uplift, motivate, inspire, and learn from one another.”
“The discussion on the S-Connect CT & Winelands Whatsapp group does not align with this mission. It is sexist, abusive and undermining of a woman who is not part of the group,” Herron said.
The language is not isolated.
An email in GOOD’s possession, evidently from Hersov, refers to several people, including Herron. The names of the recipients are cut off the screenshot of the email, which warns against “kowtowing to the nasty leftists, especially the following ratbags…” Once again Shelley Finch is attacked as a “low grade leftist punk”, while one Lucy Valerie Graham is termed “undeniably nasty”.
The mail goes on to threaten: “My eagle eyes will keep a close watch on any online and offline fraternizing with the wicked people listed above.”
Words posted on social media have consequences…
Among those named are Peter Wagenaar, who was threatened and viciously attacked last year after his feeding scheme for homeless people on Beach Road in Sea Point was opposed by members of Atlantic Seaboard social media groups. Ultimately, Wagenaar’s car was petrol bombed after its location and description were posted on social media.
S-Connect Women also appears to be linked to a group known as Smutby, which markets itself as a platform for lovers of smut and rugby.
“I have written to ask Schafer whether she has condemned the violent language and hate speech noted above. I’ve also asked if it is appropriate for a Deputy Speaker to associate her office and our parliament with these groups,” Herron said.