Cape Town - The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is investigating a complaint of hate speech made against a Port Elizabeth attorney, who referred to Jews as “monsters”.
Attorney Maureen Jansen is accused of practising hate speech after she wrote a Facebook post in which she said Jews should be “exterminated” for their support - whether active or silent - of Israel.
The comment, made early last month, led to the creation of a “boycott Maureen Jansen” Facebook page.
On Monday, the SAHRC confirmed that it was investigating the case. Spokesperson Isaac Mangena said: “(We) received a complaint of hate speech against Maureen Jansen and we will be investigating it.”
Jansen’s post read: “Bloody Israelis should be exterminated along with all the ‘Jews’ everywhere who support Israel by action or silence. The Semites of the Torah are long gone. These monsters are Jewish converts, not Semites.”
South African Jewish Board of Deputies chairman Jeff Katz said Jansen’s comment was an example of how “certain hate-filled individuals confidently propagated virulent racism against their fellow citizens”.
“Such hate-mongering goes beyond defaming and threatening any particular group of people; they go against the culture of non-racialism on which our democracy is founded, and as such are an attack on all South Africans.”
He said the Board of Deputies strongly condemned Jansen’s racist comments, as well as those of Penny Sparrow, Velaphi Khumalo and Nicole de Klerk in recent days.
“No cause, whether political or otherwise, can ever justify incitement to violence, particularly when based on race, religion, ethnicity or other such grounds.”
Cape Law Society president Ashraf Mahomed said they had received complaints and were looking into the matter.
He said they had asked Jansen to respond to the allegations.
Attempts by the Cape Argus to reach Jansen were unsuccessful.
The past few weeks have seen a slew of racist slurs being posted on social media.
Last week, DA leader Mmusi Maimane admitted that South Africa was racist.
He said: “There is a problem of racism in this country and it is important as a political leader to stand up and say where there is racism we must condemn it.”
De Klerk felt the wrath of an angry public when she repeatedly used the K-word in a public speech.
Khumalo posted on Facebook that he wanted to “cleanse” South Africa of white people.
Former estate agent Penny Sparrow referred to black beach-goers as “monkeys” on Facebook.
Another ex-realtor, Kelly-Anne Wade, sparked fury when she posted a picture of President Jacob Zuma next to a photo of a gorilla with the caption “Identical twins”.
Cape Argus