Lecturer axed over tweet
A UNIVERSITY of Johannesburg (UJ) lecturer has been fired after allegedly writing racist comments on her Twitter account.
The Solidarity trade union demanded that disciplinary action be taken against the lecturer earlier this year after she posted the controversial tweet.
The lecturer stated in the tweet: “why white people disgust me”. She followed this up by posting a cartoon of singer Steve Hofmeyr trying to interdict puppet Chester Missing.
The lecturer was suspended in June pending a disciplinary hearing.
Yesterday, university spokesman Herman Esterhuizen confirmed the dismissal.
He said: “A complaint was made to UJ. The university investigated the complaint, and following… disciplinary processes, the individual against which the complaint was made was dismissed.”
Johan Botha, head of the professional industry at Solidarity, believes the lecturer’s statements had been a direct attack on white people.
“It is unacceptable for a person in her position to display such racist behaviour in public. We are of the opinion that her actions are in contravention to the culture and principles of the university and that it fuelled unnecessary race discord, “Botha said.
He said the lecturer’s conduct was not suitable in an educational setting.