NATIONAL NEWS - The South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR) has been met with a backlash on social media following their decision to host controversial columnist David Bullard at a talk in Stellenbosch about what “the future really holds for South Africa”.

Bullard was fired by the Sunday Times for a column that caused outrage and was considered racist by many. The column, titled “Uncolonised Africa wouldn’t know what it was missing”, imagines South Africa if white settlers hadn’t arrived.

He has remained outspoken since his sacking and was embroiled in a Twitter war with journalist Michelle Solomon on the topic of rape in 2014 with his views causing an outcry. He next made the news in 2016 for sarcastically tweeting that the “darkies” should destroy the university to save “us” on taxes amid the #FeesMustFall protests.

The organisation’s decision to host Bullard has been slammed on Twitter.

“The column that got him fired by the Sunday Times reveals such a deep hatred. Every line,” one user said.

“Can’t see how you will be able to live this one down,” said another.

The IRR bills itself as a classical liberal advocacy organisation. It was established in 1929, and was known for its opposition to apartheid, with Michael Morris, the institute’s head of media, calling it “the world’s leading anti-apartheid think tank for the duration of National Party rule”.

Read more on the Caxton publication, The Citizen.