Sickened by social media comments

Last week the EFF did here in Ballito what they do – caused a commotion and that resulted in the death of one of their members. That is the EFF, we all know that.
But what I found more disturbing was the nature of so many of the comments on the North Coast Courier’s Facebook page and web article regarding this death. I don’t think I have ever seen such sick and reprehensible comments from so many before, and certainly not in this community.
Almost all of these vile comments were from whites and some from Indians expressing satisfaction or even joy at this death like “Buy the guy with the Bakkie a bells” or “Good riddance, pity the(y) missed the group”.
Others went right over into genocide with “one down, a million to go”, or “Good I got BIG bull bars for them” or “Should’ve hit the group and killed them all”.
Other nakedly racist comments ranged from “dumb black rats” to wishing Apartheid back.
We should be ashamed as a community that this came from us. Sure, the EFF are ridiculous but I have never heard this kind of racist hate speech come from even them.
But I’m not sure which is more disturbing, that these comments were made or that almost no one from our community stood up against them.
The one hopeful part this whole disgrace came from the many black commenters on those posts who overwhelmingly condemned the EFF’s behaviour. You had to read all those vile and racist comments from whites and Indians and you didn’t respond in kind. You set the example of responsible citizenship. Please know that there are many of us who are shocked and saddened by this racism and who admire your integrity.
This week exposed something dark in our community, something we need to recognise and oppose.

DUNCAN AUSTIN
Ballito