ANC veterans welcome Glenlivet apology over controversial advert linking freedom fighters to whisky
The Glenlivet has pulled down its controversial advert.
The ANC Veterans’ League has warmly welcomed The Glenlivet’s apology over a controversial advert that linked the image of Sophie de Bruyn, a survivor of the 1956 Women’s March, to an 18-year-old variant of the whisky. De Bruyn was not the only freedom fighter featured in the advertisement; Winnie Mandela and Lilian Ngoyi were also included.
The Glenlivet had run a Women’s Month marketing campaign to promote its range of whiskies, but the campaign sparked widespread criticism. The president of the ANC Veterans’ League, Snuki Zikalala, expressed deep outrage and disturbance by the advert. He emphasized that the ad demonstrated a complete disregard for the history of their struggle, the bravery of the women who took part in the historic march, and Sophie’s continued active role in the ANC structures.
Zikalala warned that the incident is a sober reminder of the dangers of social media, its role in spreading fake news, and its potential to fuel sensationalism and opportunism. The ANC mother body also condemned the advert, describing it as using the legacies of anti-apartheid activists to promote alcohol. They strongly objected to the manner in which this sacred chapter of their history had been appropriated for commercial purposes.
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