Standard Bank is planning to institute disciplinary action against economist Chris Hart over comments he made on his Twitter page, which were deemed racist. By Staff Writer
The Johannesburg-based bank said on its Twitter page:
We will be instituting appropriate internal disciplinary processes against @chrishartZA. https://t.co/Hjat3ruPaJ
— Standard Bank SA (@StandardBankZA) January 4, 2016
Hart tweeted:
More than 25 years after Apartheid ended, the victims are increasing along with a sense of entitlement and hatred towards minorities….
— Chris Hart (@chrishartZA) January 3, 2016
In reaction to Hart’s tweets, Standard Bank said his tweets had racist undertones.
Comments by @chrishartZA yesterday are factually incorrect and have racist undertones that do not reflect our values https://t.co/Hjat3ruPaJ
— Standard Bank SA (@StandardBankZA) January 4, 2016
We do not endorse comments made by @chrishartZA yesterday https://t.co/Hjat3ruPaJ
— Standard Bank SA (@StandardBankZA) January 4, 2016
The Standard Bank economist has since offered an apology for the racist tweet.
This tweet has caused offense – never intended for which I apologize wholeheartedly. Meant to be read in context of slow growth
— Chris Hart (@chrishartZA) January 3, 2016
The racist comments by Hart was meant by strong reaction,
@chrishartZA Chris as an industry associate I am totally dissapointed in your line of thinking.
— Inkunzi Wealth Group (@OwenNkomo) January 3, 2016
Where are South African Black economists ? Media shy or not confident or just not interested ? pic.twitter.com/7DBG0am8e0
— Sure Kamhunga (@SureKamhunga) January 4, 2016
SA companies need to be explicit in HR policies that posting a racist remark is a dissmissable offence. We need an assualt on racism
— Sure Kamhunga (@SureKamhunga) January 4, 2016
Meanwhile, South Africans created a racism hashtag: #RacismMustFall
Will @StandardBankZA come back & tell us the outcome of @chrishartZA interal disciplinary process? #RacismMustFall https://t.co/IuA7osk8rx
— #ANCbiggerThanZA✋ (@shandu009) January 4, 2016
A @Radio702 listener just now: “Black Talk Show Hosts being forced down our throats from dusk to dawn”. #RacismMustFall
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) January 4, 2016
What if we also just pulled a Mgabe and SA became white free?! #RacismMustFall pic.twitter.com/Oop7m8S26R
— ♥Nubian Queen♥ (@_Othandwayo) January 4, 2016
Malcolm X summed it up nicely. This is the situation in present day South Afrika. #apartheid #RacismMustFall pic.twitter.com/bvg4vnhnWq
— Mpolokeng Mampana (@alkebulan_negus) January 4, 2016
