#PennySparrow in court for ‘monkeys’ Facebook post

Former estate agent Penny Sparrow has appeared in court on charges of crimen injuria stemming from racist comments she made on Facebook.

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Durban – Former KwaZulu-Natal estate agent Penny Sparrow appeared briefly in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Sparrow, who faces a charge of crimen injuria in connection with racist comments she made on the social media platform Facebook, appeared with her new attorney.

Spokeswoman Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said that the matter was postponed to September 12 to allow Sparrow to consult with her attorney.

The case was previously postponed to give Sparrow time to get a Legal Aid lawyer to represent her.

Sparrow, a former member of the Democratic Alliance, made headlines at the beginning of the year for her post on Facebook where she referred to black South Africans as “monkeys” who if allowed loose on the country’s beaches would cause “huge dirt and troubles and discomfort to others”.

The charge against Sparrow was brought by DA member and Black Like Me founder Herman Mashaba.

In June, Equality Court Magistrate Irfaan Khalil ruled that Sparrow had to pay R150,000 to the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Trust to atone for her posting.

Sparrow was also ordered to pay the legal fees of the African National Congress, who brought the matter before the Equality Court. Sparrow did not appear in court for that case, but has appeared on both occasions in connection with the crimen injuria charge.

Ramkisson-Kara said the case was postponed to allow Sparrow time to consult with her attorney.

African News Agency