Matthew Theunissen says sorry for racist rant as calls for probe mount
Capetonian Matthew Theunissen, who has landed himself in hot water after launching a racist attack on the sports minister on Facebook, has apologised.
Theunissen used his Facebook account to slate Fikile Mbalula's decision to ban certain sporting bodies from hosting major world events because they have been slow to transform.
The 26-year-old used the ''K word'' to describe black people.
Speaking on a Cape Town radio station today, Theunissen, who, according to his Linked In profile is a former pupil of a school near Westbrook on the Kwa-Zulu Natal north coast, said he was not a racist, explaining that he had been in a very bad mood when he wrote the inflammatory post.
He says the post was the biggest mistake of his life and will forever regret it.
He's also suggested that his inability to find work has added to his frustration.
The Western Cape ANC's Yonela Diko says Theunissen's actions are deplorable.
"We call on this Matt to be investigated so that ultimately, [the] law must bite. Now, above all else though, there must be consequences for those who seek to mock the journey that we have travelled. Ultimately, racism will be cured by people opening their hearts," he said.
The Office of the Mayor of the City of Cape Town says Theunissen's matter has been referred to the SA Human Rights Commission for investigation.
Mbalula has given his reaction in a video that accompanied a tweet about Theunissen's rant.
Racist people like Matt insult gov because of its drive to transform SA take us backwards pic.twitter.com/KN3hwA6ug2
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) May 2, 2016
Just days ago, ''Rhodes Must Fall'' activist, Ntokozo Qwabe also faced a backlash online, after bragging on Facebook about not tipping a young white waitress and instead writing a note to her on the bill which read ''WE WILL GIVE TIP WHEN YOU RETURN THE LAND".
Diko has also condemned Qwabe's actions.
"We feel that it borders on criminal behaviour and he's helplessly foolish. What stops him next time from saying 'I won"t pay the bill because you owe me land or does something [crazier]? Such behaviour must be rejected and abandoned," Diko said.
A drive started on social media to raise tips for the Cape Town waitress has reportedly brought in over R100 000 since in just a few days.