We’re in the “compliments of the season” week of 2016 & South Africa is standing together as one voice against racism.
Penny Sparrow, a white estate agent, from Durban, posted an incredibly hateful comment on her Facebook which sent the South African social media into a flat spin yesterday.
In her post, Sparrow claims that “these monkeys that are allowed to be released on New Years Eve[sic] and new years day[sic] on to public beaches towns etc obviously have no education what so ever [sic] and to allow them loose is inviting huge dirt and discomfort to others.”
“From now,” she adds, “I.[sic] Shall [sic] address the blacks of South Africa as monkeys as I see the cute little wild monkeys do the same pick drop and litter [sic].
Here’s the full post:
It transpired that Sparrow was, until recently, an agent for real estate company Jawitz in Scottburgh — a small seaside town South of Durban.
In a statement released on Facebook, Jawitz Scottburgh disassociated itself with Sparrow, pointing out that she had not worked for the agency since November 2015.
Penny Sparrow has not worked for Jawitz Scottburgh since November 2015. We do not tolerate or share her views!
Posted by Jawitz Scottburgh on Sunday, January 3, 2016
South Africa responded with a resounding no. We will not tolerate racism.
https://twitter.com/simphiwedana/status/683873177081090048
Evil, brainless racists like #PennySparrow need to be called out and dealt with, even if we know we are not what they say we are.
— Khanyi Dhlomo (@KhanyiDhlomo) January 4, 2016
"It's not what you call me, but what I answer to that counts." an African Proverb #PennySparrow
— Jo-Ann Strauss (@jo_annstrauss) January 3, 2016
Others took advantage of the fact that Sparrow’s number was available online and let her know exactly what they thought of her monkey comments:
https://twitter.com/Jack_KnifedSA/status/683737821350367232
So like i got emergency airtime to send her this. #PennySparrow 😊 pic.twitter.com/0oOUcbn69X
— ayanda (@AyandaNkonzombi) January 3, 2016
Is her phone off now? #PennySparrow pic.twitter.com/oTZKuujFck
— Anahita (@NitzicaL) January 3, 2016
Penny Sparrow later issued an apology:
The story may have started with a racist post but the real story is how South Africans from all races are standing together as one, and they are saying that they will not tolerate racism.
Not now, not ever.
This #Monkey expert #PennySparrow must leave South Africa. Eventually we will be #RacismLite
— DavidKau (@davidkau1) January 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/Adv_MJWIlliams/status/683748740927254528
#PennySparrow shared something she genuinely believes. So is the issue with her racist views, or the fact that she broadcast them?
— Sarah Britten Pillay (@Anatinus) January 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/KristoffDJ/status/683739050956746753
This #PennySparrow story has me livid. At what point do we stand up against racism once and for all. #RacismMustFall
— Nolwazi Shange (@NolwaziNgubeni) January 4, 2016
Why are the racist black people who are on facebook also not hauled over the coals, the one who hold guns in their pictures and warn white and tell them how they wantvto kill us. This is one sided and this issue has been raised because she is white. It is ok for blacks to constantly post hatred against ehites and nothing is done about it. Is this to just get additional votes?
Mild compared to: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/khumalo-in-hot-water-over-racist-facebook-post-20160107