KwaZulu-Natal estate agent Penny Sparrow, who caused controversy with a Facebook posting where she likened black people to monkeys earlier this year, has been ordered to pay R150 000 to the the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation.

According to its website, the foundation “aims to address issues of socio economic upliftment and advancement, education, women’s empowerment and the promotion of arts, culture and heritage initiatives”.

The African National Congress (ANC), which had lodged the complaint, had wanted Sparrow to pay R200 000 for her racists comments.

Sparrow failed to turn up at an Equality Court hearing in Scottburgh on Friday.

Instead, Penny Sparrow’s daughter Charmaine Cowrie appeared in court.

She told Judge Irfaan Khalil that her mother was not able to come to court. Cowrie said that her mother did not know what to do and that she was unable to get legal representation. “No one would represent her,” said Cowrie.

Cowrie asked for a postponement because her mother was sick, but the case continued.

Since the outrage over her comments Sparrow has gone underground, and relevant court papers had not been served on her.

In January Sparrow posted on Facebook: “These monkeys that are allowed to be released on New Year’s Eve and onto public beaches, towns, etc obviously have no education whatsoever. So to allow them loose is inviting huge dirt and troubles and discomfort to others.

“I am sorry to say I was among the revellers and all I saw was black on black skins what a shame. I do know some wonderful thoughtful black people. This lot (sic) of monkeys don’t want to even try,” Sparrow wrote.

[Source: IOL and African News Agency]