“Black people are monkeys” post goes viral
JOBURG - A KZN-based estate agent has come under fire after posting a statement about New Years celebrations on Durban's beaches which compared black people to monkeys.
Excerpts from the post read, “these monkeys that are allowed to be released on New Years Eve and new years day on to public beaches towns etc obviously have no education what so ever and to allow them loose is inviting huge dirt and discomfort to others.”
Sparrow added, “…from now on I shall address the blacks of South Africa as monkeys as I see the cute little wild monkeys do the same pick drop and litter.”
Sparrow’s post soon went viral and has since caused an uproar across South Africa.
Numerous high-profile South Africans have weighed in on her statements using the hashtag #NoToRacism
#PennySparrow #NoToRacism pic.twitter.com/Myp1l8inxo
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) January 3, 2016
Dear #PennySparrow If you can't stand "monkeys" then Africa is a wrong continent for you. #RacistsMustFall pic.twitter.com/2bPWwW8OKj
— Terry Pheto (@TerryPheto) January 3, 2016
Yep, "you people" #PennySparrow pic.twitter.com/O2ELzy6rU9
— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) January 4, 2016
#PennySparrow awful gut churning stuff. People who think like this are destroying our country's future. https://t.co/yl01tthfzj
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) January 4, 2016
Sparrow has since apologised with another post. However many felt the apology was not sufficient.
Her former employer, Jawitz Properties also weighed in on the debate stating that Sparrow has not worked for them since November 2015. Further adding that they do not tolerate or share her views.
Read Penny Sparrow’s statement on why she wrote the post
