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Agence France-Presse

British billionaire and Virgin founder Richard Branson apologised on Tuesday for posting a picture on Twitter he admitted “clearly lacked diversity” as he launched his new entrepreneurship development centre in South Africa.
On Monday he tweeted a picture of himself and eight others captioned “We aim to become the heart of entrepreneurship in Southern Africa”.
It featured no black people in a country where 80 per cent of the population is black.
That sparked outrage as racial tensions remain high and the majority black population is still economically marginalised 25 years after the demise of apartheid.

“Where did you find so many white people in South Africa?” one tweet said.
“I wish there were more BLACK entrepreneurs in this picture,” @NomsBomba said.
Following the flurry of angry and sarcastic tweets targeting the mogul, who runs a chain of gyms in South Africa and whose airline daily flies the London-Johannesburg route, Branson deleted the tweet and apologised.
Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic could take tourists to space in a year
“The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship is for all South Africans, but yesterday’s choice of a photo to go with my tweet clearly lacked diversity. Apologies,” he said.
The centre serves as a business development hub aimed at supporting entrepreneurs.


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South Africa

Richard Branson apologises for using photo with only white people to celebrate South Africa project launch

Virgin founder Richard Branson speaking on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in October. Photo: Bloomberg

The controversial photo posted to Twitter by Richard Branson (centre), which has since been deleted.

Space tourism edges closer as Richard Branson moves Virgin Galactic rocket to launch base

The taxiway leading to the hangar at Spaceport America in Upham, New Mexico. Photo: AP

SpaceShipTwo, the spacecraft of Virgin Galactic, during a flight test in July 2010. photo supplied by the company. This for the story of space tourist for Monday.

A combination of photos show Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo as it detaches from the jet airplane that carried it aloft and then exploding over the skies of the Mojave Desert, California October 31, 2014. The passenger spaceship being developed by Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic company crashed during a test flight on Friday near the Mojave Air and Space Port in California, killing one pilot and seriously injuring the other, officials said. REUTER/Kenneth Brown (UNITED STATES - Tags: DISASTER TRANSPORT SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2011, file photo a crowd gathers outside Spaceport America for a dedication ceremony as Virgin Galactic's mothership WhiteKnightTwo sits on the tarmac near Upham, N.M. British billionaire Richard Branson is taking another concrete step toward offering rides into the close reaches of space for paying passengers. Branson announced Friday, May 10, 2019, that Virgin Galactic will immediately begin shifting operations from California to a spaceport and specialized runway in the New Mexico desert in final preparations for commercial flights. He says Virgin Galactic's development and testing program has advanced enough to make the move, which will continue through the summer. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan, File)

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson, left, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and U.S. Sen. Tom Udall wait to speak during an event at the state capital on Friday, May 10, 2019, in Santa Fe, N.M. Branson announced Friday that his company will begin shifting operations from California to a spaceport and specialized runway in the New Mexico desert in final preparations for commercial flights. (AP Photo/Craig Fritz)

Beth Moses, chief astronaut instructor, describes her flight into space while on stage with Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson, right, during an event announcing the company's move to New Mexico Friday, May 10, 2019, at the state capital in Santa Fe, N.M. The company says is it nearing the first commercial flights from the Spaceport America. (AP Photo/Craig Fritz)

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson announcing the company’s move to New Mexico on Friday. Photo: AP

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Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson says his new cruise line, Virgin Voyages is now taking orders for its first cruise in 2020. Photo: Business Insider

A rendering of the completed Scarlet Lady. Photo: Virgin Voyages

Branson's private island. Photo: Necker Island

Virgin Voyages' first ship, Scarlet Lady, under construction in Italy. Photo: Virgin Voyages

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Sir Richard Branson on the charity climb in Alps. Photo: Twitter/Richard Branson

News

World

Africa


Picture in billionaire’s tweet on new entrepreneurship development centre has no black people in it in a country whose population is 80 per cent black
Virgin founder admits photo ‘clearly lacked diversity’ and deletes post



No black people in image tweeted to celebrate new entrepreneurship development centre in a country whose population is 80 per cent black.


Racism and other prejudice

Richard Branson apologises for using photo with only white people to celebrate South Africa project launch

Picture in billionaire’s tweet on new entrepreneurship development centre has no black people in it in a country whose population is 80 per cent black Virgin founder admits photo ‘clearly lacked diversity’ and deletes post

Picture in billionaire’s tweet on new entrepreneurship development centre has no black people in it in a country whose population is 80 per cent black

Virgin founder admits photo ‘clearly lacked diversity’ and deletes post