#Anti-racism – #ThrowbackThursday – Racism recap from 2016 to now
Shockingly enough, these are just a few that made national headlines and sadly, many others were involved.
With talks of anti-racism week rife, we take a look at the racial slurs that made the rounds in the last two years.
Shockingly enough, these are just a few that made national headlines and sadly, many others were involved.
1. January 2016 – Penny Sparrow
KwaZulu-Natal estate agent, Penny Sparrow, called New Year’s Day black beachgoers “monkeys”.
Her Facebook post read:
She later deleted her post and apologised, and said she did “not mean it personally”.
Sparrow was ordered by the Umzinto Equality Court to pay R150 000 to the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation for her post for hate speech.
She was also fined R5 000 or 12 months in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of crimen injuria.
She has also written a letter of apology in terms of the court order.
2. Chris Hart
Days after Sparrow’s rant, economist and Standard Bank employee Chris Hart posted a tweet which many saying it had racist undertones.
Hart came under fire after he tweeted:
The bank suspended Mr Hart over the controversial tweet and he resigned in March last year.
3. Vicky Momberg
Estate agent Vicki Momberg faced charges of crimen injuria following a viral video where she used the K-word and called some of the city’s black police officers arrogant, useless and clueless.
The rant was a result of a smash-and-grab incident she was involved in that had occurred minutes prior to police arriving on the scene.
4. Andre Slade
Sodwana Bay guest house owner Andre Slade, told a prospective guest in an email that he could not house them as they do not accept blacks or government employees any longer.
He used the Bible as justification for his actions saying that you “can’t mix an apricot and a peach”.
The South African Human Rights Commission looked into the matter, as well as KwaZulu-Natal’s Tourism MEC Sihle Zikalala, who wanted Slade prosecuted for crimen injuria, tax evasion and operating an illegal business.
5. Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Martins Jackson
Victor Rethabile Mlotshwa said he was accused of trespassing, and as a result was assaulted and shoved into a coffin by Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Martins Jackson. A 20-second video of the assault went viral.
The pair appeared in the Middelburg Magistrates’ Court on charges of kidnapping and assault with intent of grievous bodily harm. They later withdrew their applications for bail, claiming they feared for their lives outside prison following nationwide outrage.
6. Riaan Lucas
Social media was abuzz after Riaan Lucas, posted a meme soon after the announcement of the former Springbok rugby player, Joost van der Westhuizen’s death.
Lucas wrote: “Joost is vrek” (Joost is dead) with the meme that read, “Me when I hear a white man has died. RIP Joost.”
Would this be the last South Africans hear of racist remarks on social media?
Leave your comments in the section below and let us know your thoughts.
