KZN woman slammed for racism over Facebook post
An estate agent has received massive backlash over a racial message posted on social media which is still currently trending.
Penny Sparrow shared a post on Facebook comparing holidaymakers that flock to beaches in KZN on New Year’s Day to monkeys.
Part of her post reads : “These monkeys that are allowed to be released on New Year’s eve and New Year’s day on to public beaches towns etc obviously have no education what so ever so to allow them loose is inviting huge dirt and troubles and discomfort to others."
An online business profile has connected Sparrow to a real estate company in Scottburgh - which its CEO has since distanced the company from her remarks, saying she has not worked for the company since November last year.
Here is the Facebook post shared by Penny Sparrow.
Following the massive criticism, Sparrow has since apologised. See that post below.
The hashtags, #PennySparrow and #RacismMustFall are currently trending on Twitter. See reactions on social media to the incident below.
#PennySparrow comments are racist. They are an insult to me and to our party. We have too many of these in SA & we must criminalize these.
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) January 4, 2016#PennySparrow, are these also monkeys on Brighton Beach in the U.K? Don't let your passport cut you on the way out. pic.twitter.com/c1BtUyCJ5x
— Mathew Love (@mathewlove36) January 4, 2016If we as white South Africans do not come out against the comments made by #PennySparrow then we are a part of the problem.
— Holly (@HollymusicSA) January 4, 2016Seems like this #PennySparrow is the one who is "underprivileged" (intellectually) and needs the "help" she claims to give!!
— robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) January 4, 2016This #PennySparrow now knows she can get away from her dishonest politicians & business partners but not from civil society activists.
— Menzi Kulati (@menzikulati) January 4, 2016That #PennySparrow apology is reminiscent of a classic "I'm not racist because my best friend is black" apology but with no tact whatsoever.
— Maps Maponyane (@MapsMaponyane) 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, 2016Meanwhile, there have been other similar incidents that have made headlines.
An economist employed by Standard Bank has also received criticism after sharing a racially sensitive tweet yesterday.
"More than 25 years after Apartheid ended, the victims are increasing along with a sense of entitlement and hatred towards minorities," Chris Hart tweeted.
Hart has subsequently apologised while Standard Bank says the institution will pursue disciplinary action against him.
Social media user, Justin van Vuuren has also received similar criticism following comments about the Durban Beachfront yesterday. Van Vuuren was quoted comparing beach holidaymakers to animals.