DA in another racism storm

Johannesburg. — The Democratic Alliance is planning to pull Penny Sparrow’s membership, the party said yesterday.

This after the KwaZulu-Natal woman compared black people to monkeys on her Facebook page over the weekend, leading to a national outcry.

DA national spokesperson Refiloe Nt’sekhe said the party in KwaZulu-Natal had served notice of intention to suspend Sparrow’s membership and had referred her conduct to the Federal Legal Commission for investigation.

“Racists are not welcome in the DA, and have no place in our democratic South African society,” the party said.

Sparrow would be given the opportunity to appeal the suspension.

Sparrow is an ordinary member of the DA.

In her post Sparrow wrote: “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.

“I’m sorry to say that I was amongst the revellers and all I saw were black on black skins what a shame. I do know some wonderful and thoughtful black people. This lot of monkeys just don’t want to even try. But think they can voice opinions and get their way of dear,” she continued.

“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 and drop litter,” Sparrow added.

Kohler Barnard issue

This is the second time the party has had to deal with racist Facebook post from members.

DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard’s membership was terminated at the end of October after she shared a Facebook post from journalist Paul Kirk, in which he praised former apartheid president PW Botha.

She was reinstated in December after she fought the expulsion.

Black Like Me founder and DA member Herman Mashaba has also laid a crimen injuria charge against Sparrow. “Attitudes of such vitriolic racism have absolutely no place in South Africa,” Nt’sekhe said.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu also condemned Sparrow’s comments, but warned not all white people should be tarred with the same brush.

“It is very unfortunate that at this day and age, we still have people who harbour some racist tendencies. Our province has come a long way from colonialist and apartheid’s domination to be an all-embracing province.

This is evidenced by the number of domestic and foreign tourists who come to our shores each year,” Mchunu said.

He appealed for calm in the province.

“We are encouraged by the fact that most people of our province have not only embraced non-racialism, non-sexism (and a) democratic and free society.

They are making serious strides to dent the racist bigotry from people such as Penny and her associates who masquerade as champions of the underprivileged, yet still harbour white supremacist ideologies which seeks to undermine our hard fought gains,” the premier said. — News24

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