Racial slur targets Ehrenreich’s rugby stance

A SOUTH African man working in the US has sparked an outcry on Facebook for using a racial slur to attack Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich over his controversial Springbok race stance.

Cosatu has actively been lobbying for transformation in sport, with several rugby players enlisting the help of the trade union federation after being sidelined for selection.

Jannie Marais, originally from Kroonstad but who works in Washington, Kansas, was responding to Cosatu’s ongoing criticism and protest against Springbok coach, Heyneke Meyer.

He sent a Facebook message to Ehrenreich which read: “Hey you fokken verskoning van n mens los die witmense se sport uit jou ligkleurige k****r (hey you sorry excuse of a person, leave the white people’s sport alone, you light skinned k****r ).

In his response, Ehrenreich wrote: “This is the type of racism and bigotry we experience in the inbox of this page on a daily basis. These are the types of racists that would like to keep our people in bondage.”

Ehrenreich went on to thank Marais for showing the people of SA just “who and what” he is.

He also listed Marais’s contact details.

The post made several Facebookers hot under the collar, and has subsequently been removed after a complaint was lodged.

Airing his views, Eddie McDermott posted: “I don’t understand Afrikanns but I get the jist of the message and its very disturbing fools still have this mindset.”

Marais’s Facebook friends also commented with Chris van Niekerk posting, “Ja ou maat sien cosato is kwaat vir jou” (yes old friend, see Cosatu is angry with you).

The post was also brought to the attention of disgruntled rugby fans in the Southern Cape who earlier staged a protest action at Outeniqua Park in George where the under-18 international series was taking place.

Dawid Kamfer, a local community leader, demanded action.

“We would like action taken against this man, as racism can no longer be accepted in a democratic South Africa.”