Vandals spray-painted satanic symbols on the entrance to a popular local vodka bar called The Holy Spirit after a prominent politican said the name ‘offended’ his faith.
The venue in the South African city of Cape Town had the figure ‘666’ and a pentagram plastered across one of its walls on Tuesday.
Another wall was covered with a huge splash of red paint, along with the pavement and parts of a closed gate.
Owner Olya Kirkluk said: ‘We are obviously saddened that certain individuals have gone as far as this.
‘Vandalising property is never an acceptable form of behaviour and we wish that no small business is subject to such contempt in future.
‘Our small restaurant was built from the ground up with lots of love and sweat. Our place welcomes absolutely everyone and exists as a safe space for all to come and be themselves.’
She went on to seemingly call out local politician Mmusi Maimane for his comments criticising the name of her bar some three weeks ago.
The former leader of the country’s official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, had said the name ‘belongs in the pit of hell’ in an Instagram post.
Mr Maimane, who is also a preacher, said: ‘Why use what is sacred to a faith to your restaurant? Would you do this to another religion? I find it offensive, offends my faith and I will oppose it.’
After the vandalism attack, Ms Kirkluk appeared to respond directly to this when she wrote on social media: ‘We find it regrettable that any person with big social media reach would be so obtuse to the fact that antagonising a small independent business because of the name potentially put customers, as well as staff members (of varying religious backgrounds and beliefs) at risk.’
Mr Maimane has since said: ‘The same law that allows me to voice my opinion protects the bar owners from vandalism and damage to property.
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‘I stand by my assertion that the theme of this bar is in bad taste and offends my own faith.
‘That is a matter of freedom of speech, opinion, belief and religion, which are well-protected rights in the constitution.’
The politician has faced backlash from multiple South Africans who have accused him of ‘misguided virtue signalling’.
Many have rushed to show their support for Ms Kirkluk, with one woman Tonya Stanfield writing: ‘I love your name. In fact, my plan was to bring a group of friends after church lunch just because it’s so fun.
‘A restaurant is a sacred space too with all the love put into it. So sorry this happened.’
Similarly, blogger Nicola Nelson said: ‘I’ll be seeing you guys soon for cocktails and my Christian self will be ordering a lot of them. I love the name.’
Christians believe the figure ‘666’ is satanic because of a verse from Revelation 13:18 which says: ‘Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man, and his number is 666.’
The pentagram symbol represents different things in different cultures but some think it is evil because of its association with witchcraft, among other things.
South Africa is a majority-Christian country with nearly 80% identifying with some version of the religion, according to Statista, but the constitution is secular and provides the right to freedom of religion and expression.
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