Brazilian begs EU to take in SA whites

An online petition is calling on the EU to allow white South Africans to return to their ancestral countries in Europe. The petition on the website www.change.org, had about 15000 signatures last night.It calls for the EU to allow white South Africans, Namibians and Zimbabweans to be given automatic European citizenship.The petition hadover 1000 signatures on debut a few days ago.Rodrigo de Campos, a Brazilian, is behind the campaign and his motivation is that "the white South African population currently faces ethnic cleansing and persecutions at the hands of the ANC government, the Economic Freedom Fighters and various individual anti-white aggressors. Over 4000 white farmers have been brutally murdered, often including torture, rape and mutilation."Neither the ANC nor the EFF could be reached for comment last night.His rationale, he said, was "based on the Israeli government's policy of allowing all Jews the right to return to Israel"."We believe it is not only advisable but morally obligatory that Europe should allow all white South Africans the right to return," he said.It is not clear from De Campos's Facebook profile why he would campaign for white South Africans.Some of those in support of the petition have given their reasons on his page.Susan Mulder wrote: "My life and the lives of my children are at risk daily. We love SA but are no longer welcome in the country our ancestors built. We have no option but to ask for your help.""I am a naturalised British citizen yet my mom is stuck on her own in South Africa. She should be growing old with her daughter and granddaughter. She has been attacked. An AK47 has been held to her head. She is alone and traumatised. She deserves to be free from living in fear," said Marischka Davies.The petition comes as South Africans continue to seek asylum in other countries. Between 2006 and June, 151 South Africans applied for asylum in several countries, but only 23 applications were granted.The most famous of them was Brandon Huntley, who was granted refugee status in Canada in 2009, but the decision was later rescinded on judicial review.Not everyone is taking the petition seriously, though.Political analyst Shadrack Gutto dismissed it as ridiculous: "You could petition to go to where you believe you originally came from but if you investigate further you find you came from somewhere else."However, he sympathised with those supporting the petition, and said he would like to open up a dialogue with them."What this shows is that education is a problem. It is simply not good enough, and that is even globally," Gutto said.Presidency spokesman Harold Maloka declined to comment. So did cabinet spokesman Phumla Williams and Clayson Monyela of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation.