Commission to probe Edward Zuma’s letter

THE SA Human Rights Commission says it will investigate President Jacob Zuma’s son Edward for his open letter to former finance minister Pravin Gordhan and former tourism minister Derek Hanekom.

“The commission has become aware of an open letter purported to have been authored by Mr Edward Zuma.

“The commission finds the contents of this letter‚ in particular statements that promote hatred on the basis of race offensive, disturbing and a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression as articulated in section 16 of the constitution.

“The commission will be seeking appropriate redress as empowered by the constitution, as well as the SAHRC Act.

“The commission is concerned by such statements being made within the broader context of hate speech‚ particularly on the basis of race‚ by individuals with a public platform‚” it said in a statement.

On Wednesday evening‚ the racially charged Edward Zuma letter stated: “By being the extension of whites and white monopoly capital stooge‚ Gordhan shows us of his inferiority complex to whites but superior complex to natives‚ that whites, according to him and his inner world, deserve to be accorded a perpetual status as masters‚ and an African native is unimaginative to be of higher status than any race in this country” [sic].

“This privileged boy from Sastri College shows us that he would defend whites and their appointed crumb eaters‚ the white monopoly capital indunas‚ the black parasitical political stooges at all costs.”

Former cabinet minister Derek Hanekom also came in for a vicious tongue-lashing‚ being referred to as “vile” among other epithets. — DDC