Debate continues to rage after well-known Afrikaans author Annelie Botes told a newspaper earlier this month that she does not like black people.

A Rapport interviewer asked Botes, who was born in 1957, if there is anyone she does not like. She reportedly paused, before warning that her answer may shock readers.

"I don't like black people," Botes said, according to Rapport.

"I don't understand them! I know they are people just like me. I know they have the same rights as me. But I do not understand them. And then I do not like them. I avoid them because I am scared of them... My neighbour was brutally murdered. For what?

"If black people are hungry, why don't they, like in the old days, break in, steal the fridge and walk away? I know where their anger comes from. It has f**k-all to do with apartheid. They are angry because of their own incompetence."

Die Burger Oos has reportedly since fired her as a columnist.

Users of social networking sites are still fiercely debating the topic.

Twitter user cheryldavy said: "Dear Annelie Botes you are a small minded bigot and no, you do not speak for all white South Africans. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

"Author Annelie Botes say she does not like black people, I think she honest and brave" wrote Th2bo.

According to the Mail & Guardian, Botes is standing by her controversial comments.

"I don't want to back-pedal over my comments. It's the truth," she told the Mail & Guardian.

"A friend of mine had a saying: sometimes you chop wood and you don't consider where the splinters will land."

"Maybe it was impulsive... and maybe it's unfair to put all black people under one umbrella. Naturally, there are a lot of black people that I like very much. But I certainly meant what I said."

According to Wikipedia, Botes has had nine works published.