Cape Town - The FW De Klerk Foundation has laid complaints with the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) against 45 social media posts it said incited extreme violence against white South Africans.
The foundation said an analysis of Facebook showed expression of “dangerous racism”.
“Most media commentators viewed [former estate agent Penny] Sparrow’s remarks and the subsequent far less controversial comments of [fired economist] Chris Hart and [fired Idols judge] Gareth Cliff as evidence of rampant and pervasive white racism.
“However, an analysis of Facebook and Twitter messages shows that by far the most virulent and dangerous racism – expressed in the most extreme and violent language – has come from disaffected black South Africans,” the foundation said in a statement on Friday.
“The messages are replete with threats to kill all whites – including children, to rape white women or to expel all whites from South Africa.”
The foundation, established by former president FW De Klerk, did not indicate who the owners of the Facebook accounts were.
The SAHRC has been requested to use of its power to investigate whether the messages constituted hate speech in terms of section 16 of the Constitution and Section 10 of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA).
“The Foundation has also asked the SAHRC to use its powers to take steps to secure appropriate redress where human rights have been violated and, if it believes it to be appropriate, to refer communications that directly incite the killing of people or the perpetration of grievous bodily harm, to the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions for further consideration.”
In recent weeks, racist posts on Twitter and Facebook has seen charges and complaints laid against users accused of racism.
!!!! RT @NomalangaSA: FW De Klerk Foundation should be report to @SAHRCommission for continuously supporting the principle of Aparthied.
— Mika♥ (@chanel_kt) January 15, 2016
@news24 FW De Klerk foundation aka @afrifurom aka protector of "group rights" #RacismMustFall
— Karabo Nkabinde (@KaraboNkabinde) January 15, 2016
FW de Klerk Foundation. So what are they going to do about racists towards blacks? pic.twitter.com/XJZUIQZf8D
— Janine-Robin van Nel (@janinerobin01) January 15, 2016
African News Agency
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