Pam Golding Properties has said it will not tolerate any form of racism from its employees following social media posts by one of its former agents who described President Jacob Zuma as being identical to a gorilla.
While the Facebook posts were made in June and December last year, it began doing the rounds on Twitter on Tuesday, prompting various calls for Pam Golding to comment on the matter. It also prompted the hashtag #KellyAnnWade on the social media platform. In its response on Tuesday, the estate agency said it did not condone racism or discrimination in any shape or form, and would take strong action against any employee or agent who conducted themselves in a racist manner.
On her Facebook account, Wade described herself as a former selling agent at Pam Golding Properties in Alberton. The company has distanced itself from her, saying she was last employed by them in 2008 for a relatively short period.
"She has had no further association with Pam Golding Properties since 2008 in this or any other employment capacity," the company said.
On June 18 2015, a woman known as Kelly-Ann Wade posted a picture of Zuma on the social media platform, with a caption saying "APES EVEN HAVE MORE INTELLIGENCE THAN HIM.!!!"
*Insert screen munch*
Six months later on December 22, Wade posted side profiles of both Zuma and a gorilla with a caption that read, "IDENTICAL TWINS".
*Insert screen munch*
This comes a week after the outcry over KwaZulu-Natal realtor, Penny Sparrow, who also took to Facebook to describe black beachgoers as "monkeys" in an apparent reaction to litter left behind after New Year’s celebrations in Margate.
There was a mass reaction to her statement across social media platforms, as well as from political quarters.
The estate agent later deleted her post and apologised, saying she did "not mean it personally".
Jawitz Properties CEO, Herschel Jawitz, told News24 at the time that, while Sparrow had left the company two months ago, her online profile still associated her with their brand.
"She is an ex-employee and unfortunately she hadn’t updated her Facebook page that still reflects her as employed by Jawitz Properties," he said.
"The most important fact is that these comments are outrageous in any context and to be made publicly is unacceptable."
-News24