Tutu’s Twitter account briefly suspended
The ex-archbishop’s @TutuLegacy account racked up hundreds of followers in its first hours of use, before being blacklisted.
“Twitter says it’s ‘sorry for the inconvenience’ over our suspension. We got caught up in a spam clean up. Glad it wasn’t something we said,” Tutu tweeted soon after he was unblocked.
Twitter says it's 'sorry for the inconvenience' over our suspension. We got caught up in a spam clean up. Glad it wasn't something we said.
— TutuLegacy (@TheTutuLegacy) August 8, 2013
His foundation had earlier expressed dismay at the decision.
“Twitter has not explained how following 30 people could be construed as ‘aggressive following’,” his foundation said in a statement.
The foundation suggested “the number of people who followed @TutuLegacy in a short space of time,” may have also been to blame.
“I hope the powers that be at Twitter find it in their hearts to fix the problem and let us communicate again,” Tutu’s daughter Mpho said. “We need to reassure all those people who started following us today that this is the real deal!”
The news about Twitter came after it was announced earlier that Tutu’s Cape Town home had been burgled. Thieves took “small household items”. Tutu, 81, and his wife were unharmed.
The break-in occurred overnight Tuesday-Wednesday as the archbishop emeritus and his wife, Leah, were at home sleeping.
“We can confirm that there was a break-in at the house,” said Benny Gool, a spokesman for the 81-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner. “The police are investigating the case.”
Police confirmed a burglary had taken place.
“The suspect or suspects fled with small household items and are yet to be arrested,” said Lieutenant Colonel Andre Traut.
Burglaries, or so-called home invasions, are common in South Africa and are frequently accompanied by deadly violence.
Those who can afford it live behind high walls, electrified fences and with panic buttons that rapidly summon heavily armed private security guards.
