A South African man has lost work and become a social pariah after posting a video to social media where he uses a racial slur.
Adam Catzavelos was spending a lovely day at the beach in Greece when he posted this video to social media. The word we bleeped is commonly referred to as the “K-Word” in South Africa. Very similar to how Americans think of the N-word, the K-word is a derogatory term for black people that is considered highly offensive in South Africa.
The video was shared by TV personality Farah Fortune, with the tweet: “wow… why doesn’t he move there then. Some of you white folks are tiring.” From there it went viral, earning widespread condemnation and making Catzavelos a social outcast.
South African Steakhouses The Butcher Shop and The Baron, as well as other companies, have severed ties with Catzavelos’s family business, St. George’s Fine Foods. And in an effort to salvage their business, St. George’s, which Adam co-owns with his brother and father, have dismissed him entirely.
In a statement, they wrote: “It is abhorrent and we fully disassociate ourselves from the sentiments expressed. We reject racism in any form. Adam Catzavelos has been dismissed with immediate effect from the family business, St George’s Fine Foods, and his minority shareholding will be unwound as soon as practically possible. Given the high-profile nature of this development, the business has been temporarily closed for the protection of all its staff.” Sure enough, stgeorgesfinefoods.com has been taken down.
Nedbank and 702, which sponsor and manage a local Business Accelerator Programme, have also distanced themselves from Catzavelos, writing “When his racist video came to our attention, 702 decided to immediately end exposure of his business on our website.” St. Johns College, where his sons attend school, has informed Catzavelos that he is not welcome on campus until further notice.
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And some South African activists have said even that’s not enough – that Catzavelos’s whole family must bear the repercussions of his actions.
Catzavelos’s wife apparently works for Nike, and many South Africans are boycotting the company until she is dismissed. An activist group called the Economic Freedom Fighters has demanded that Catzavelos be arrested and charged.
In South Africa, you can be jailed for “racial abuse.” This recently happened for the very first time in the case of Vicki Momberg, who was sentenced to two years in prison for a racist rant against police.
It goes without saying that, much like the U.S., there’s a long and troubled history of racism in South Africa. Verdicts like the one against Momberg are symbolic of a zero tolerance approach to racism.
It’s unknown at this time if Catzavelos will indeed be arrested and brought up on similar charges of racism. What do you guys think about how South Africa handles racism? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter at @WhatsTrending.
