South African businessman says racist "selfie" video destroyed his life
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – A Johannesburg businessman who made headlines around the world when he recorded himself making racist comments on Thursday apologised for the incident.
In 2018, Adam Catzavelos took a “selfie” clip of himself on a beach in Greece where he expressed delight that there were no black people around.
“I’m going to give you a weather forecast. Blue skies, beautiful day, amazing sea and not one kaffir in sight. You cannot beat this,” he says in the brief clip.
The word “kaffir” is the most hated racial slur in South Africa and the courts have handed down heavy sentences when perpetrators have been convicted.
Although he only sent it to a few friends, the video went viral and he was charged in South Africa and Greece.
"I am not making up excuses for what I did. What I did is horrendous and disgusting. I was not thinking of a reaction from the video. I am sorry for what I did," he said in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court in mitigation of sentence.
He was convicted of crimen injuria after pleading guilty in December. The law defines crimen injuria as “a wilful injury to someone’s dignity, caused by the use of obscene or racially offensive language or gesture”.
Catzavelos said the incident had humiliated his family and he could not talk to his children or parents without weeping. He said he also received thousands of death threats and lived in fear for his safety.
The Equality Court last year fined him US$10,000 and he was ordered to undergo 160 hours of community service.
The hearing continues.
-0- PANA CU/AR 13Feb2020
