‘If I misunderstood Ngidi, I will happily apologise’, Dippenaar maintains his views on BLM movement

Some former Proteas cricketers including Dippenaar had hit out at Ngidi for asking the team to support BLM campaign.

By Salman Anjum - 11 Jul, 2020

Former South Africa opener Boeta Dippenaar on Friday (July 10) stood by his views on the campaign against racism, saying "all lives matter". However, Dippenaar said he is happy to apologise to Lungi Ngidi if he has misunderstood the fast bowler’s view on Black Lives Matter movement.

See Also: Daren Sammy supports Lungi Ngidi after getting criticized for supporting BLM movement

Dippenaar's remarks came after he and former spinner Pat Symcox received flak on social media for attacking Ngidi, who had urged the South African team to take a stand in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

In a Facebook post, Dippenaar, who played 38 Tests and 107 ODIs for his country, had said Black Lives Matter is turning into 'nothing more than a leftist political movement'. He also told Ngidi to raise his voice against the killing of white farmers in South Africa if he needs support for the BLM campaign.

Speaking to Sport24, Dippenaar clarified his comments on Ngidi while maintaining his views on the movement.

"The idea was certainly not for it to end up going the way it did ... but I stand by my view," Dippenaar said.

"From what I could tell from the article I read, Lungi was leading a discussion to get the Proteas collectively to support Black Lives Matter as an organisation, and if I misunderstood that, I will happily apologise.

"What does it (BLM) really stand for? I posted my views and made it clear that, in my opinion, all lives matter.

"I don't think people take the trouble to do their research and the reading. I think the intentions around Black Lives Matter were probably noble in the beginning, but the views of its founding members are fundamentally Marxist. I encourage everyone to read more about them.

"It's a Marxist system that seeks to break down the very system of family that we are built on."

Boeta Dippenaar also said he is not in favour of South Africa collectively showing solidarity for the Black Lives Matter movement.

His comment came after Cricket South Africa (CSA) CEO Jacques Faul said his board stands in solidarity with the global movement, adding that the organisation will use its platform to educate on all forms of discrimination.

"The vision of CSA, to become a truly national sport of winners supported by the majority, finds resonance in the ethos of 'Black Lives Matter'. Black Lives Matter. It is as simple as that," the statement read.

"As a national sporting body representing more than 56 million South Africans and with the privileged position of owning a platform as large as we do, it is of vital importance that we use our voice to educate and listen to others on topics involving all forms of discrimination," Faul said.

By Salman Anjum - 11 Jul, 2020

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