Two South Africans have learnt the hard way that racism doesn’t pay.
Racist Penny Sparrow, who likened black people to monkeys on social media, will now have to put her money where her mouth is, after being slapped with a hefty R150 000 fine.
The Equality Court on Friday ordered that the money be paid to the Oliver & Adelaide Tambo Foundation to promote non-racism.
But the foundation doesn’t want the “racist money”.
Chief Executive Mavuso Msimang said: “The top prize would be if she had confessed and if everyone was really satisfied that she had shown contrition.”
Sparrow ducked her court appearance, and her daughter, Charmaine Cowie, said her mother was sick and suffering from diabetes.
Cowie said her mother wanted to make an apology, and asked for a postponement.
But Advocate Denzil Potgieter, for the ANC - which filed the complaint - said Sparrow did not respond to their queries.
Magistrate Irfaan Khallil then found the retired real estate agent guilty of hate speech, and fined her R150 000 payable within 60 days.
Meanwhile, the SA Human Rights Commission has banned Matthew Theunissen from social media for a year and ordered him to do community service and undergo anger management therapy.
Following an announcement that some sports would not be allowed to host international tournaments due to a lack of transformation, Theunissen referred to government as a bunch of “k@ff!rs” on Facebook.
The commission said the penalty was meant to “sensitise” Theunissen to the need for transformation.