Thread: SA woman ordered to pay R150‚000 for racist Facebook rant

Penny Sparrow has apologised after this Facebook post started a storm that still rages a week later.
Image by: Facebook

In his judgment‚ Equality Court magistrate Irfaan Khalil said the words posted by Sparrow on her Facebook page on January 3 constitute hate speech and were a serious affront to human dignity and black people in general.

She has 60 days to comply with the judgment.

Sparrow was also interdicted and restrained from publishing propagating‚ advocating or communicating hate speech in the future.

African National Congress provincial secretary Super Zuma welcomed the judgment‚ saying it sent a clear message.

"Those who think they can make racist remarks won't get away. You can run away but you can't run away from the court."

Sparrow‚ who caused an outcry on social media after calling black people “monkeys”‚ was a no show in the Equality Court in Scottburgh on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast on Friday. She went to ground immediately after a storm over her racist remarks.

Her daughter‚ Charmaine Cowie‚ told the Equality Court her mother couldn't be present in court because she feared for her life.

‘Fear for her life’ keeps Penny Sparrow from attending Equality Court hearing
The case went ahead without Sparrow being in court.

Cowie said her mother was sick and had diabetes.

She also said her mother is a pensioner who is divorced and is officially homeless.

In his ruling‚ magistrate Khalil said that Sparrow's post received "unprecedented coverage‚ nationally and internationally".

"With it came a great deal of hurt‚ suffering‚ shame‚ embarrassment and anger for South Africans of all races."

He said there had been a dramatic increase of reported incidents of open racism and hate speech in South Africa.

"The South African Human Rights Commission has publicly reported that in this year alone‚ over 230 cases of racism were registered with the commission. There can be little doubt that there are many other instances of racism that are never reported and which never reach the public domain."

Matthew Theunissen gets community service for racist Facebook rant
The clerk of the Equality Court was directed to submit the matter to the directorate of public prosecutions for consideration regarding instituting criminal proceedings.

Sparrow was ordered to pay the costs.

Penny Sparrow ordered to pay R150‚000 for racist Facebook rant

I don't like racists, but I think they should have the freedom to express their opinions.
Calling people names is also harmless unless the "victim" is a sensitive child.
Hate speech, however, that incites crime or hatred, is a different thing.

It's always good to know who the redneck bigots are, so that I know who not to be nice to.

What’s the flattest surface to iron your jeans on? A white girl’s ass!

How much is 150,000 R?

What is the scariest thing about a white person in prison? You know he did it

Originally Posted by Jesus Jones

What’s the flattest surface to iron your jeans on? A white girl’s ass!

I thought it was a Chinese-Thai lesbian's chest.

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

How much is 150,000 R?

About US $9,850...

I find it a bit strange when articles like these do not publish what was said or written so readers are then unable to form an opinion on the case.

Originally Posted by Looper

I find it a bit strange when articles like these do not publish what was said or written so readers are then unable to form an opinion on the case.

Maybe she said that under the ANC black majority rule that SA is the gun crime and rape capital of the World ,and untold thousand's of white farmers have been brutally slain.

And of course this horrific article can in no way be construed as racism https://americanfreepress.net/70000-whites-murdered-in-modern-south-africa-obamas-african-legacy/

Originally Posted by Looper

I find it a bit strange when articles like these do not publish what was said or written so readers are then unable to form an opinion on the case.

Welcome to the 'Headline Society!'

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

How much is 150,000 R?

1.50 US$

Piwanio,, got eyes fixed on the sign language dude in the vid.
Funny as fcuk.

Its only a matter of time thanks to the ANC before the Beautiful Country of South Africa becomes the same sort of shit hole that Zimbabwe is right now

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

How much is 150,000 R?

About US $9,850...

Ok, cheers.

Originally Posted by Chittychangchang

Originally Posted by Cold Pizza

How much is 150,000 R?

1.50 US$

Now, that would not surprise me.

Originally Posted by Looper

I find it a bit strange when articles like these do not publish what was said or written so readers are then unable to form an opinion on the case.

I agree, before one can make up their own minds to decide if her words are what they say they are.
I don't need big brother making decisions that I cannot see what was actually said..
Why, probably because a lot of folks just might agree with her.