The monarch’s death has renewed questions surrounding the rare diamonds that adorn the royal crown and sceptre which are said to have been stolen from Africa.
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore has described as hypocrisy how a Black man would be haunted for stealing a bag of Doritos while the late Queen Elizabeth II of England wore a crown adorned with stolen jewellery but was celebrated worldwide.
Sowore in a Twitter post on Thursday noted this, posting alongside the picture showing a CNN report captioned ‘Calls are growing in South Africa for Britain’s royal family to return the world’s largest known clear-cut diamond in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death’.
Indeed, the monarch’s death has renewed questions surrounding the rare diamonds that adorn the royal crown and sceptre which are said to have been stolen from Africa.
A 317-carat diamond known as the Star of Africa II or Cullinan II adorns the crown while a 530-carat colourless diamond, known as Great Star of Africa or Cullinan I, estimated to be worth $400 million is affixed to the Royal Scepter.
“If a Black person stole a bag of Doritos from a bodega in the US his/her life would be ruined forever, #QueenElizabethII crown is adorned with stolen diamonds, gold and all sorts of African gems and same was escorted by law enforcement agents in the UK and applauded across world!” Sowore tweeted.
“When did it become cool to wear stolen goods? #WeCantContinueLikeThis,” he added.
Meanwhile, according to the CNN report, demands are growing in South Africa for the return of the Great Star of Africa and other diamonds -- along with calls for repatriations since the monarch’s death. It noted that many South Africans view Britain's acquisition of the jewels as illegitimate.
"The Cullinan Diamond must be returned to South Africa with immediate effect," activist Thanduxolo Sabelo told local media, adding that: "The minerals of our country and other countries continue to benefit Britain at the expense of our people."
More than 6,000 people have signed a petition asking for the Great Star of Africa to be returned and displayed in a South African museum.
A member of the South African parliament, Vuyolwethu Zungula, urged his country to "demand reparations for all the harm done by Britain" and also "demand the return of all the gold, diamonds stolen by Britain."