Johannesburg - Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula on Monday said he noted the conclusion of the investigation by South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the sanction imposed on Matthew Theunissen for posting a racist remark on Facebook.
Following Mbalula’s release of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) report on Transformation in Sport, Theunissen reacted by posting racist remarks on Facebook. His remarks sparked public outrage when screenshots of his post went viral.
A hate speech complaint was laid against the 26-year-old for using the k-word in his post on Facebook.
The SAHRC probed the matter and recommended that Theunissen must do sport community service and conduct an academic research on transformation in sport.
“Considerate to the SAHRC constitutional limits and principles of pursuing restorative rather than punitive justice sanctions, Minister Mbalula accepts and trusts the recommendations will be implemented fully,” said minister in statement.
“The racist remarks made by Mr Theunissen were ignorant and insulting to black people who continue to face many forms of racial exclusion.”
Mbalula said it was important that a Chapter 9 institution such as the SAHRC investigated the matter.
“The restorative measures the commission has recommended should serve as a teaching moment to racist people who believe some sporting codes are an exclusive right of one race against the other,” said Mbalula.
“We will continue working with our fellow compatriots, black and white, to transform sport. Racism slows our transformation agenda and has no space in our society.”
African News Agency