Johannesburg - It might have started off slow, but it looks like the Penny Sparrow fundraising effort is taking off, with more than R5 000 now pledged to help her pay the fine.
Supporters of Sparrow, who gained notoriety for her racist Facebook rant that likened black people to monkeys, have come to her aid. Some say that they believe in freedom of speech, while others think that Sparrow has been made a scapegoat.
This follows the ruling on Friday by the Umzinto Equality Court, in KwaZulu-Natal, that fined Sparrow R150 000 for her post. Among Sparrow’s supporters was Stephen Marr, who posted on Monday on the crowd-founding site Youcare.com that Sparrow has suffered enough, and he congratulated Helgard Muller for starting the campaign.
“Penny Sparrow made a stupid remark. But this fine is nothing less than ridiculous. And with the ANC legal costs it could double. She has lost her job through it all and her life has been threatened. The money has to be paid to an ANC-aligned organisation. This initiative has my support and I shall donate. Well done Helgard!”
Andrew van Graan also brought up the ruling party in his defence of Sparrow.
“The ANC can sing 'Kill the Boer' and similar and nothing is ever done about it. Let’s show them that even though we may not agree with Penny, we feel she’s had enough bad press and been made into a scapegoat - time to help her!”
Sparrow was told the fine would be donated to the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, but some of her followers are alleging that the ANC is trying to get the fine into its coffers.
Johan de Wet, who works at Hoërskool Schoonspruit, wrote: “This is not for legal fees. She wasn’t even represented. She is being forced to donate money to an ANC charitable foundation.”
The Star