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South Africa's Zuma accepts resignation of judge over racial comments

Xinhua, May 8, 2017 Adjust font size:

President Jacob Zuma has accepted the resignation of Justice Mabel Jansen who has been in hot water for making racial remarks, the presidential spokesperson said on Monday.

Jansen resigned as a judge of the Gauteng High Court Division with immediate effect, Bogani Ngqulunga said.

"The president has thanked Justice Jansen for her service and wished her well for her future endeavors," Ngqulunga said in a statement.

Jansen had been on special leave following comments she made on social media in 2015 that gave rise to a complaint to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).

Jansen tendered her resignation last week after the JSC investigated the racial comments she made two years ago.

In a Facebook conversation with social justice activist Gillian Schutte in 2015, Jansen suggested that rape is an ingrained part of black people's culture.

Jansen's comments drew immediate outrage from members of the legal fraternity, political parties and ordinary South Africans.

Following her comments, the JSC proposed to Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Michael Masutha that Jansen be placed on special leave.

A new wave of racial tension has gripped South Africa over the past two years.

It all started in early 2015 when Penny Sparrow, an estate agent, labelled black revellers on public beaches in Durban during the New Year as "monkeys."

This prompted the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to push for the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill to criminalize racism, which many fear is rearing its head in South Africa.

Once it becomes law, the bill will criminalize several forms of discrimination, including on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and nationality. Endit