It is always a sad day when human beings are likened to animals, more so in condescending tones filled with malice and prejudice. Only a few days into 2016 and the newsstands; social media and South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is abuzz with calls rallying against racism. Have the levels of racism in South Africa risen, or have we started being vocal against it? Or perhaps, for the longest time as a country, we have merely wished it away.
The country was in mass hysteria following #PennySparrow’s, a former real estate agent for a prominent property group in South Africa went on a social media outburst and referred to black people as “monkeys”, she also mentioned her disdain over having black people on beaches: “I’m sorry to say I was amongst the revellers and all I saw were black on black skins what a shame…this lot of monkeys just don’t even try.” She then went on to apologize following a backlash and complaints following her post on Facebook. This is only one in several incidents that happened in that very same week, similar posts were posted by celebrities and newsreaders among others. It evidently is 0a prevalent problem, one that we cannot simply wish away, one that needs serious address and legislative intervention.
Image Source: SA Online History Archives
“It reminds us of the economic injustice that continues. Black people save up a lot of money over the year to visit beaches”
Sello Hatang (Nelson Mandela Foundation)
What is “racism”?
The preamble of the South African #Constitution which is the repository of all state power (Greys Marines), states “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.” Thereby providing that all conduct should be in line with the #Constitution, racism is not, effectively making it unconstitutional. Racism simply put is the marginalisation of another racial group, by another. This may entail the deprivation of resources based on the race of certain individuals. There is an on-going debate surrounding ‘reverse racism’. A follow-up article will address this discussion.
The movement shall be… #hashtagged, tweeted, posted?
Are we in the era of hashtag revolutions? Type a simple hashtag and you find the conversation and interaction surrounding the hashtag, some of these hashtags trend worldwide. Social Media has also proved to be somewhat of a ‘search engine’, however people should discern the type of content they find online, it is usually someone else’s opinion and musings. Social media guidelines should be followed.
How do we move forward?
A nation cannot move forward and heal, if the issue is unacknowledged, one of the reasons why racism is still an issue is the blunt inequalities and rife economical discrepancies among the minorities and majorities of this country – therefore, these issues too must be addressed. Access to resources ought to be promoted. There are already measures in place for economic redress, viz BEE; AA; EE et al. Furthermore, the law’s position on hate speech is addressed through inter alia, the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act – which has a wide prohibition on hate speech. One may also file an action against hate speech based on the crimen injuria doctrine.
We need a more unified approach to resolving racism, it will take inclusive action, the resources of this country after all belong to all who live in it.
*Grey’s Marines v Hout Bay v Minister of Public Works 2005 (SCA)
*The 1996 Constitution
*Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act
*Sunday Times January 10 2016
