Johannesburg - The Rainbow Nation is a myth. So says the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) trends analysis report, which shows an increase in racism incidents, mostly directed at black Africans.
Instead of living in racial harmony 24 years after democracy, blacks South Africans are instead frequently called "apes", "baboons" and the k-word, among other derogatory slurs.
The SAHRC yesterday released its 2016/17 trends analysis report, and its senior legal adviser Alexandra Fitzgerald said most race-related complaints were lodged by black South Africans.
Of the 705 equality-related complaints received by the commission, 486 were about racial discrimination.
These types of complaints increase each year and have now reached 69%.
“The public exposure of many racist incidents can be attributed to the growing popularity and use of various social media platforms.
"In addition, people use social media as a platform to express racism.
"Derogatory comments, intended to denigrate the intelligence, humanity, appearance and beliefs of black people are rife.
“Racist remarks commonly include demeaning epithets such as 'baboon', 'monkey', 'aap (ape)', 'hotnot' and 'coolie'."
The use of the k-word was endemic.
"These incidents of racial discrimination take place at schools, universities, businesses and in the workplace,” reads the report in part.
Fitzgerald said one of the high-profile matters in the year under review was the case against Vicki Momberg, who was found guilty of four counts of crimen injuria in November last year following her racist tirade in 2016.
Momberg, 49, shouted racial slurs at Constable Clement Mkhondo, who had been trying to assist her after she was involved in an alleged smash-and-grab incident.
The Equality Court awarded damages of R100000 to Mkhondo in June last year.
“What the report says about South Africa, and if you look at the statistics, you can see that the spectre of apartheid is still looming large over us and is still casting a long shadow.
"The statistics are undeniable. Black South Africans are being subjected to routine and frequent racial discrimination in South Africa,” Fitzgerald added.
The report stated that race-related
complaints “decreased marginally from
505 in 2015/16 to 486 in 2016/17”.
There were 208 cases reported in
2012/13.
“The numbers remain extremely
high, particularly in comparison to the
first three financial years under review,
which averaged 266 race-related complaints
a year.
“Race-based discrimination presents
the greatest challenge to the
work of the commission, as evidenced
by the extremely high volume and the
frequency of race-related complaints
received in 2015/16 and 2016/17,” the
report revealed.
In the five-year period from 2012-
17, the Gauteng provincial office
recorded the highest number of
race-related complaints.
“In three of the four financial years,
the KwaZulu-Natal provincial office
recorded the second highest number
of race-related complaints.
“The number of complaints in
this category has increased in KZN
year-on-year, while it has been unpredictable
in Gauteng, peaking dramatically
in both provinces during
2015/16.
“Most other provinces do not
demonstrate increases of great significance,
with margins in peaks and
troughs for these provinces around
5% to 10%, except for the Free State,
which increased from no equality/
race-based complaints in 2012 to 42
in 2015/16,” reads the report.
Fitzgerald added that among the
top five complaints were grievances
regarding healthcare, food, water, sanitation
and social security, with 631
reports.