Noisy demonstration greets king and queen in South Africa
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Add as a favourite source on Google Add DutchNews as a favourite source on GoogleKing Willem-Alexander and queen Máxima were confronted by a noisy crowd when returning to their car after visiting the Slave Lodge museum on the third and final day of their official visit to South Africa on Friday.
Around 100 people, some in traditional clothing, had gathered outside the museum in Cape Town chanting “you are stealing our culture” and “we want compensation” as the couple left the building, news agency ANP reported.
The demonstrators are part of the Khoisan people who say that the king’s apology for the Netherlands’ past involvement in slavery does not go far enough. The king formally apologised for the Netherlands’ slave trading history at the commemoration of 150 years since abolition on July 1.
The visit is the first official trip to South Africa since Willem-Alexander came to the throne.
President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier described the king’s apology as “an important step in reconciliation, reparation and healing old wounds.”
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