NATIONAL NEWS - The South African Human Rights Commission has reached a settlement with businessman Adam Catzavelos in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court of R 150,000.

Catzavelos, who self-recorded a video in which he made racist remarks, has agreed to pay damages in the amount of R150,000 which will be paid to a charity that promotes social cohesion, non-racialism, social injustice and reconciliation in Soweto named the Seth Mazibuko Legacy Foundation.

While holidaying on a beach in Greece, Catzavelos made racist comments about the lack of black people in his surroundings.

“Not one k***r insight. F*king heaven on earth… You cannot beat this!” he said in the video.

The businessman appeared in court where he was expected to read his apology to the SAHRC.

In the apology letter, Catzavelos admits to having made a racial slur on August 12, 2018.

“When I watch the video, not by choice, I may add, but because in certain circumstances I have had to for example with my lawyers, I am truly disgusted, horrified and ashamed of my behaviour. I now, more than ever, in the course of having to confront and take responsibility for my actions, which has forced me to consider deeply issues such as dignity and humanity, I am acutely aware of how profoundly dehumanising and hurtful it must be for black South African’s to be referred to by the K-word with all its connotations, who a mere 24 [sic] years ago were liberated from centuries of enslavement, colonisation and subjugation and oppression.”

Earlier this month, the SAHRC offered Catzavelos a settlement of a R200,000 fine and an apology.

“We are claiming R200,000 and we can’t settle for anything less than R200,000, and we used the precedent in the Angelo Agrizzi case and in another matter in Springs in which the commission assisted a farmworker,” said SAHRC Gauteng chairperson Buang Jones.

The organisation gave Catzavelos time to consider the offer until the Equality Court case, which the SAHRC took to court, proceeded.

Catzavelos is still expected to appear in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on crimen injuria charges after the EFF in Gauteng opened a criminal case against him.

He is also expected to face charges in Greece relating to the “intention to publicly – via internet – incite, provoke, excite or [encourage] acts or actions which may cause discrimination, hatred or violence against a person or group; or persons identified by race, colour, religion, genealogy, national or ethnic origin, gender; or threatens the lives or freedom of such persons”, his lawyer explained to the media.

Source: Caxton publication, Alberton Record