Cape Town musician David Scott, known by the pseudonym The Kiffness, shared his worries related to death threats and concerns for his family's safety, which stemmed from his open political, racial, and religious statements.
In an interview with NewsdayZA, Scott spoke about his return to social media after having left the X platform earlier this year. He noted that the negative reaction to his controversial comments had taken on a frightening turn.
Scott stated that people are allowed not to agree with him, but the situation changed when threats began to be made against him and his family.
Scott reported that a member of the Black Sash organization disclosed his mother's personal data, calling the incident 'simply insane.' He recalled a moment when he doubted the advisability of participating in a planned performance, wondering why he should go on stage if there was a real possibility someone could approach him in the bushes at Kirstenbosch and cause harm.
As a result of these threats, Kirstenbosch had to implement entry security checks for the first time. Scott emphasized that this reflects the reality of the modern world, where open expression of opinion comes at a huge cost. Nevertheless, he decided to continue speaking because he believes it is necessary to speak the truth.
Scott has repeatedly found himself in awkward situations because of his social media comments; critics accused him of racism and provocative remarks. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he mocked the speech of former Minister Nkosasana Dlamini-Zuma regarding the ban on cigarette sales, which sparked a public argument with then-Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina. Masina accused Scott of racism and having apartheid mentality.
Furthermore, in 2022, Scott faced criticism for defending Hank’s Olde Irish Pub in Cape Town amid allegations that a Black visitor was denied entry unless accompanied by a white person.
His stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict also drew criticism, with pro-Palestinian groups accusing him of promoting ultra-right narratives. Scott explained that he left X at the beginning of the year because the platform makes conveying complex ideas difficult.
He believes that platforms like X are useful for sharing ideas and seeing other opinions, but he notes that when trying to condense complex concepts into short sentences, people lose nuances.
The musician explained that his messages were often misunderstood because the audience could not see his body language or understand his true intentions. The musician, who is a father of a four-year-old son, announced that he expects another child. He added that fatherhood has changed his view of life, and he wants his children to grow up with their father.
Despite the threats, Scott stated that he will not stop speaking out, describing the truth as the 'best disinfectant.'
