S.African ruling party wants stricter sanctions against racism

Amid a public uproar over anti-black comments, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in Parliament said on Wednesday that it would explore ways to make racist comments punishable by law.

Stricter sanctions should be imposed against those promoting racism, and penalty for such transgressions should be imprisonment, said the party, adding that existing legislation is not enough to prevent racist comments.

On Tuesday, the ANC laid charges of crimen injuria against individuals for allegedly promoting racism.

The charges were laid against a number of South Africans who have made racist remarks on social media platforms. They include former estate agent Penny Sparrow, economist Chris Hart, and fitness enthusiast Justin van Vuuren.

Formal complaints against the same individuals were simultaneously laid to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).

This came after Sparrow labelled blacks as "monkeys" who were allowed to go onto public beaches in Durban reserved for the white people during New Year. Her comments went viral on social media and caused a public uproar.

Hart has come under fire after he tweeted on Sunday that 25 years after apartheid ended, the victims are increasing, along with a sense of entitlement and hatred towards minorities.

Also commenting on black South Africans using Durban beaches was Van Vuuren who posted on Facebook: "These (blacks) are destroying the beach! Go back... to where you came from and take your 13 kids with you... I recommend we make our promenade private! It shouldn't be enjoyed by the scum of the nation!"

Sparrow has been suspended by the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) as a party member, and Hart by the Standard Bank, his employer.

Also on Wednesday, the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) reiterated that racism must be criminalized and punishable with imprisonment.

The EFF said the ANC has acceded to the EFF Elections Manifesto demand that racism must be criminalized. Enditem