Kathrada Foundation outraged at racist video
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation expresses its outrage following an appalling video, in which a Johannesburg man, Adam Catzavelos, makes use of the word ‘kaffir’.
The Foundation’s Executive Director, Neeshan Balton, said that while racism remains an ongoing problem in the country, “nothing should take from the level of outrage and disgust that we should express following an incident of this nature”.
Catzavelos, who was holidaying in what reportedly seems to be Greece, shared the following sentiments in a video that has since gone viral: "Let me give you a weather forecast here. Blue skies, beautiful day, amazing sea and not one ‘kaffir’ in sight…”
“We want to tell Catzavelos, that perhaps he should remain in what he describes in his video as “heaven on earth”. South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and if he is not prepared to live under this edict of our Constitution, then maybe he should go and find some enclave where his racism will be tolerated. Unlike during apartheid, our country today, and its beaches, are open to everyone. We really don’t require racists like Catzavelos in our public spaces,” Balton said.
He noted the decision by the family business where Catzavelos worked to fire the racist offender. “Racism must be made expensive for racists. Just as we have done with H&M, and in recent weeks, KFC, Sasol and hopefully Mugg & Bean in the coming days, we will endeavour to engage with the business to understand their policies and sanctions for racism within the institution and by their staff. We need more concrete steps from St Georges Fine Foods to show that the business is totally opposed to racism.