EFF guns for ‘beach racist’
CATZAVELOS: PARTY OPENS CASE AFTER BUSINESSPERSON USES K-WORD
Party opens case after businessperson uses k-word, as his family calls for calm.
Family calls for calm after backlash.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) yesterday opened a case against a businessperson for his racist comments made while he was on an overseas visit. The EFF, led by Mandisa Mashego alongside Pastor Paseka Mboro, were at the Bramley police station to open a criminal docket against Adam Catzavelos, who was exposed in a video expressing his joy at there being “no k***irs in sight” at an overseas destination he was visiting this week.
In the video that was leaked on social media, Catzavelos can be seen showing scenes of what is presumably a Greek beach, before saying: “I’m going to give you a weather forecast. Blue skies, beautiful day, amazing sea and not one k **** r in sight. You cannot beat this.”
Political figures and regular Twitter users first exposed his identity, and then demanded that Catzavelos account for his comments.
Catzavelos’ family owns the St George’s Fine Foods company, and angry Twitter users immediatlely started calling on businesses to cease using their products.
They have provided a stream of businesses that Catzavelos is linked to: from The Baron, Butcher Boys, The Butcher Shop and Grill to Braza & Rib Zone.
Braza and Rib Zone, as well as The Baron have distanced themselves from Catzavelos’ comments, and have indicated they will no longer do business with his family’s company.
Catzavelos’ brother, Nic, yesterday said the family also distance themselves from his comments, and called for calm.
“As a family, we are devastated. We fully understand the outrage his words have rightly caused,” a statement read.
“On behalf of the rest of the family, however, we appeal ... for some measure of calm. Members of the extended family and some of our staff and business associates have been threatened and intimidated, with death threats made. Our primary concern, right now, is for the safety of the extended family, and that of our staff and associates.”
He also indicated his brother has been removed from the board of directors of the family business, “and the business is in the process of negotiating a settlement on his minority 33% stake in the business”.
They also plan to unwind his 25% stake in the family’s other business, Smokehouse and Grill.
Amid all the backlash, however, there have also been some who commiserate with Catzavelos, with some expressing their opinion that people such as Julius Malema and Andile Mngxitama should face a similar outcry.