ANC weighs in on #PennySparrow remarks

17.05.2015 ANC Spokesperson Zizi Kodwa address the members of the media during the press conference about the outcomes of the NEC meeting which was held at Pretoria over the weekend. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng

17.05.2015 ANC Spokesperson Zizi Kodwa address the members of the media during the press conference about the outcomes of the NEC meeting which was held at Pretoria over the weekend. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng

Published Jan 4, 2016

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Cape Town - The ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Monday added its voice to the mass condemnation of racist remarks made by two South Africans, prominent economist Chris Hart and real estate agent Penny Sparrow, calling it polarising.

“Mr Hart and Ms Sparrow should have known better and should not be allowed to polarise our society,” said ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa.

“We have made great progress in building this nation and no amount of racism from individuals or groups must be allowed in our society.”

Both Hart and Sparrow sparked outrage on social media with remarks regarding black South Africans.

On Sunday, Sparrow - a former employee of Jawitz Properties in KwaZulu-Natal - compared black South Africans to monkeys who littered and caused trouble on beaches.

Sparrow apologised saying she was not racist and had helped the “underprivileged of all races”.

In subsequent media reports, Sparrow said she did not feel calling black South Africans monkeys was offensive as the animals were “cute”.

Jawitz Properties - who have stated the realtor’s employment ended in November 2015 - along with the Democratic Alliance have promised to take action against Sparrow.

The DA’s Herman Mashabe on Monday laid a criminal charge against Sparrow who is a member of the party.

Prominent economist Hart is also facing his share of criticism after tweeting: “More than 25 years after Apartheid ended, the victims are increasing along with a sense of entitlement and hatred towards minorities.”

The tweet has been deemed racist by many and has prompted Hart’s employer Standard Bank to institute disciplinary procedures.

On the backlash against Hart and Sparrow, Kodwa commented: “The ANC is pleased with the widespread condemnation of these comments and also calls for the isolation of any racist actions coming from any individuals or group in our country.”

He added that the remarks were reminiscent of Apartheid and were degrading and undermined democratic gains.

“The ANC rejects these comments with the contempt they deserve and calls on all South Africans to join in the rejection of all racists in our country, wherever they are,” said Kodwa.

The ANC Youth League, historically known for being more militant than its mother body, also spoke out on Monday, but pulled no punches in doing so.

“The time has now come for you to understand and appreciate that for as long as you live in Africa, our melanin is all you see when you wake up and go to bed,” said national spokesperson Mlondi Mkhize.

“As a nation we’ve been far too patient and lenient with racists, who on a daily basis add salt to injury while we try to build society.”

Mkhize said black South Africans’ wait for unity was over and that the days of tolerating “hate speech disguised as free speech” had come to an end.

African News Agency

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