South African court rules against singer in race row

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) –  The Stellenbosch Magistrate's Court on Monday ruled against controversial South African musician, Steve Hofmeyr, after it found he had harassed anti-Apartheid activist, Johan Pienaar.

PANA reports that Pienaar last year wrote the names of prominent South Africans who supported Apartheid on the old national flag and displayed it on the pavement in Stellenbosch and invited people to walk on it.

Hofmeyr tweeted he would pay anyone who removed the flag from the pavement. It was subsequently stolen and Pienaar sued him.

The court said it is satisfied that Hofmeyr had engaged in the harassment of the applicant and ordered him to cease and desist from harassing Pienaar or encouraging the theft of the flag.

He was also ordered to post a tweet on top of his Twitter page for the period of three months (within 24 hours) to withdraw the reward and instruction.

In 2014, Hofmeyr wrote and published a tweet stating that he believed that black South Africans were the "architects of apartheid" on his public Twitter account. This prompted a significant public backlash. He has also made statements reflecting his apartheid denialism.

-0- PANA CU/VAO 22July2019