Both the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) have announced that they will be investigating a tweet that depicts Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma morphing into an ape.
The tweet – supposedly originating from one Danie Herselman – was reported by the South African Council of Churches (SACC) to the SAHRC over the weekend.
General Secretary of the SACC, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, said: ‘We want the SAHRC to urgently investigate Mr Herselman for the possible criminal display of racist and sexist expressions to detract from the inalienable human dignity of the victim of his palpable venom, Dr Dlamini-Zuma, and by extension, black women, and black people in general – this in the context of the historical racist association by racists, of black people with apes. We have asked that they investigate and possibly prefer charges at the Equality Court, and maybe also in the normal courts for the possible charge of crimen injuria.’
The CGE said that it noted various social media posts relating to Dr Dlamini-Zuma with concern. ‘The commission notes that many of these posts have racist and sexist undertones and have been used to isolate and undermine her as a member of the National [Coronavirus] Command Centre (NCCC) team as she executes her duties in the [NCCC] during this coronavirus pandemic.’