Home » South African’s Shocking Beach Video Boast. Time to Stop Racist Friends’ Comments

South African’s Shocking Beach Video Boast. Time to Stop Racist Friends’ Comments

A South African man, who appears to be the husband of a Nike Africa brand manager, has filmed himself boasting about being on a beach in which there is not a black person in sight. To make what was already a shocking statement even worse, he uses the k-word. It didn’t take long for Tweeters […]

By Jenni Baxter
22-08-18 11:56
in Eish!

A South African man, who appears to be the husband of a Nike Africa brand manager, has filmed himself boasting about being on a beach in which there is not a black person in sight. To make what was already a shocking statement even worse, he uses the k-word.

It didn’t take long for Tweeters to hunt down the identity of the man after EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Quintin Ndlozi tweeted on Tuesday evening: “Racism Alert] we are looking for this white boy. Anyone who knows him‚ his name and where he is based‚ please DM me… .”

The man has been named as Adam Catzavelos who works in his family’s sauce business, St George’s Fine Foods in Joburg. According to the website his father George started the company in 1968 and was apparently the “first man to baste/marinade steaks in South Africa”. Adam joined his brother and father in the business in 2003.

Tonight several restaurants and outlets which stock St George’s products were named on social media with calls to boycott them unless they remove the products. #AdamCatzavelos has become the most popular hashtag on Twitter.

There have also been calls to boycott Nike, and predictions that Nike sales in South Africa will plummet following the revelation that Adam’s wife Kelly works for Nike Africa. SAPeople did contact Nike for a statement, but they had not yet responded at the time of publishing.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Kelly has been Nike Africa’s Merchandise Brand Manager, in Johannesburg, since 2014.

The tragic outcome of this video is not a hit to Nike’s sales or St George’s sales… but the impact it has on reconciliation and forging a future in South Africa in which all races can live in harmony. Every time a white person makes a racist remark, for some black people – that person represents all white South Africans. And vice versa.

Tonight the following comment was just one of many – “White people are not your friends. They don’t like you, they never will. Stop being disappointed at whites like #AdamCatzavelos they are simply being white, it’s time we also be black.”

Sadly, while most people know Adam Catzavelos does not represent the majority of white South Africans – it’s not enough to distance oneself after the fact. It appears to be urgent that all South Africans, of all races, start calling their friends – or partners – out on racist remarks.

There is so much goodness happening in South Africa, so many people of all races working together, helping each other, making each other’s daily lives that little bit easier and better… that a video like this does not belong in the South Africa of today.

As Ulrich Janse van Vuuren said: “Stay on that beach. Do us all the favour and don’t come back.”

UPDATE

Nedbank and 702 say they “strongly condemn all forms of racism”. In a statement on their website, 702 says: “Adam Catzavelos is not a Nedbank employee. He took part in a Business Accelerator Programme four years ago (2014).

“He was profiled on this programme, hosted on 702 and sponsored by Nedbank, along with other entrepreneurs. The show has featured more than 360 entrepreneurs over a period of six years.”

WATCH shocking beach video boast by South African man:

https://twitter.com/fcfortune/status/1031802097434542080

If your device can’t view the above, please try below:

https://youtu.be/Fe9XWPLzlac

On Twitter: