Adam Catzavelos has been trending for almost a week now since a video of the businessman on holiday in Greece was leaked on social media.
In the video, Catzavelos is seen saying, “Let me give you a weather forecast here: Blue skies‚ beautiful day‚ amazing sea and not one k****r in sight. F***ing heaven on earth.”
Twitter users under the instruction of EFF National Spokesperson Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi who asked for help tracking the identity of the businessman found him instantly leading to the rise of the hashtag #AdamCatzavelos.
Racism Alert] we are looking for this white boy. Anyone who knows him, his name and where he is based, please DM me… pic.twitter.com/qqe6AngDyY
— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) August 21, 2018
Since the video was leaked people have been calling for legal action to be taken against Catzavelos.
St Georges Fine Foods, the family company where Catzavelos was the Marketing Director announced through a statement sent to talk show host Eusebius McKaiser that they had been appalled by his comments and had dismissed him with immediate effect.
According to reports last week, the EFF’s Gauteng branch opened a case against Catzavelos at the Bramley police station.
Due to the fact that the incident took place in Greece, national police spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili said the issues would be taken to the provincial level, the head office, then to Interpol.
“It will be taken from the police station level to provincial, then head office and then Interpol, who will liaise with Greece and, from that point on, more investigations will be done based on Greece’s findings.”
According to the Sunday Tribune due to the rise of hate crimes in Greece, in 2014 an amendment was adopted to the law to combat racial discrimination.
The law, in summary, states that anyone who publicly stirs, either orally, through the press, the internet, or any other means, acts of hatred against a person or group of persons defined by reference to race in a manner that endangers the public order will be punished by imprisonment and a fine.
What Millenials had to say…
Siphesihle Njoli said, “Society does not have a place for people like that, It is hard to believe that there are people who still view Africans like that. He should be charged as a racist and face the consequences. He should be excluded from things that make him money so he can suffer.”
Xolani Shabalala, on the other hand, said, “I think it’s only fair that he be charged in Greece. Because countries are not the same and have different constitutions. What if in Greece hate naming is not a crime. He deserves fairness as well.”
Zamaswazi Mdluli said, “I think they should make an example of him. How can he be charged in Greece and not in S.A? There are too many racists in S.A, he should be charged, make a live broadcast formal apology. The human rights commission should deal with him accordingly. He should know that there are consequences to his actions. I believe that he should get a harsh punishment, whatever it may be.”
“As a South African, I am fuming. We’d like him to answer questions here in South Africa as well, not just in Greece. He is a part of us and he humiliated our values and objectives as a diverse country. It ’s deeply hurting,” said Thando Majola.
Lunga Msimang said, “I’m done being angry at people like Adam Catzavelos. I do think we have it in our power to take the necessary measures now that his opinions concerning other human beings have come to light. He isn’t here for the nation-building project. So I hope the businesses he owns feel the effects of a society that recognizes that. A little unfortunate that his wife is catching strays, but I guess you make your own bed. I just hope you guys are consistent in both your messaging and actions or else Adam and his friends may as well keep taking videos like this.”
Menelisi Ndwandwe said, “Adam is an adult, he knew what he did in that video, was unacceptable and it further widens the wounds of the past. He must come here and face any civil or criminal charge. I strongly believe that since he is a business person, Department of Trade and Industry must suspend his operating license and the Department of Home Affairs must suspend his passport, let him come here and obey the values of the Freedom of Charter.”
