Matthew Theunissen gets community service for racist Facebook rant

10 June 2016 - 15:36 By TMG Digital

Capetonian Matthew Theunissen‚ who went on a racist rant against government in reaction to news about a lack of transformation in sport‚ will do community service in a poor‚ disadvantaged area for three to six months.Anger management therapy‚ anti-racism research and no sharing on social media are also on his horizon.This is part of a settlement reached with the South African Human Rights Commission‚ which was asked to investigate him for hate speech.The commission held a conciliation meeting on Tuesday to conclude its investigation into a Facebook post by Theunissen on May 2 which said: “So no more sporting events for South Africa. I’ve never been more proud that to say our government are a bunch of k*****s…yes I said it so go f**k yourselves you black f***ing c***s.”His comment followed an announcement by Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula that certain national sporting codes will be suspended from participating internationally due to a failure to meet some transformations targets.Theunissen responded immediately to attempts by the commission to contact him.“Prior to meeting with the Commission he issued a public apology. Following an initial meeting with Theunissen an additional statement and unconditional apology was tendered to the SAHRC’s request for his response to the allegations‚” the commission said in a statement on Friday“The parties agreed to convene a conciliation meeting that was held on Tuesday 7 June‚ where Theunissen offered additional assurances and agreed to particular remedial conduct in response to his offence. These were recorded … in a settlement agreement.“As part of the settlement‚ beyond the unconditional apology‚ which the Commission deemed acceptable and sincere‚ the parties agreed that Theunissen would embark on community service for a period of 3 to 6 months in a currently poor disadvantaged area of Cape Town Metropole in the area of sports development‚” said the commission.This was meant to sensitize Theunissen to the “need for transformation and challenges facing poor disadvantaged communities in Cape Town”.Theunissen will also undertake research on anti-racism‚ diversity‚ transformation and tolerance in general - and specifically within the area of sport - in order to achieve a greater understanding of transformation issues‚ and the hurt caused by his post.“This process asks Theunissen to specifically explore‚ reflect and understand what hate speech and racism are‚ why hate speech is destructive to South Africa’s transformation process‚ and how white privilege functions in South African society‚” said the commission.Theunissen will also undergo anger management therapy and has agreed not to “publish or communicate any further discriminatory or hurtful language‚ and will refrain from engaging on any social network platform for 12-months while undergoing rehabilitation”.He must report back to the commission on his community work and anti-racism research after three months.“The resolution of this matter was facilitated by Mr Theunissen’s willingness to acknowledge his wrongdoing‚ co-operate with the SAHRC‚ and engage in rehabilitative conduct directed at understanding the consequences of his actions‚” said the statement...

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