Human rights watchdog receives two complaints about racist Joost meme

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is assessing two complaints about the racist meme posted on social media shortly after the death of rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen.

A Facebook user named Riaan Lucas posted the meme‚ stirring up a hornet’s nest online.

“We have received complaints. We are in the assessment phase at the moment. We haven’t made a decision on whether an investigation is actually going to happen but we have received complaints and we’re assessing them‚” said SAHRC spokesperson Gail Smith.

The human rights watchdog declined to say who had lodged the two complaints.

Trade union Solidarity‚ however‚ confirmed on their website earlier this week that they had lodged a complaint.