The Equality Court in KwaZulu-Natal has ordered estate agent Penny Sparrow to pay R150,000 to the Adelaide and Oliver Tambo Foundation as punishment for racist comments in Facebook after the ANC took legal action against her for comparing black people to “monkeys”. Theunissen, who was in trouble with the Human Rights Commission for his racist rant, has agreed to do community service. He took to social media last month to vent about Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula’s decision not to allow South African sports associations from hosting major international events.
Sparrow was complaining about people who litter on Durban’s beaches around New Year’s Day. She called black people monkeys.
This week she failed to appear in court as her daughter Charmaine Cowrie asked the court for a postponement claiming her mother was ill and that she battled to find a lawyer. A ruling was made to for her to pay R150,000 in her absence. She has 60 days to make the payment.
As part of the 26-year old Theunissen’s settlement for using the K-word in a Facebook rant, he agreed agreed to community service in a disadvantage neighbourhood for a period of three to six months. He also – wisely – apologising for what he said and will do research on anti-racism, undergo anger management therapy, and will go on “a social media detox” for 12-months.
The Human Rights Commission says his experience doing community service will “sensitise” him to the need for transformation and challenges facing poor disadvantaged communities in Cape Town.
The commission says he has agreed to all of the remedial action, and has shown willingness to cooperate. He will have to report back to the commission on his progress in a few months.
