Adam Catzavelos has remained the number one trending topic on Twitter after a video of himself using the k-word went viral on Tuesday.
In the video, Catzavelos uses the k-word while celebrating the fact that no black people were at a beach he was at. It is unclear when or where the video was taken.
Soon after the video was posted Twitter tracked down the company he works for, his cellphone number and businesses he has dealt with. Radio 702 and Nedbank featured Catzavelos on the Nedbank Business Accelerator programme in 2014. Both have since distanced themselves from Catzavelos.
Several attempts to reach Catzavelos. He has not responded to requests for comment
South Africans took to Twitter to express their shock and dismay at the recording, with calls for swift justice to be taken.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has given the police until 5pm on Thursday to arrest him.
In a video that’s gone viral, Catzavelos is heard boasting about being on a Greek beach without a single black person in sight.
He uses the K-word to refer to black people.
His relatives have dismissed him from the family business, St George’s Fine Foods, with immediate effect.
He has since been fired from the family business, St George’s Fine Foods, and one client of the company has already decided to find another supplier.
On Wednesday, the red berets laid a criminal complaint against the Joburg businessman at the Bramley Police Station.
The EFF’s Mandisa Mashego says they’ve given the police enough evidence and information to assist them to act swiftly against Catzavelos.
“We’ve given them everything, we’ve given them evidence. We’ve given them the guy’s address and we’ve even given them his ID number. There’s nothing for them to do, they must go and arrest.”
Mashego has called on South Africans to boycott businesses owned by racist people.
“His company has forced him to resign; we don’t care. They can do whatever they want to help make themselves feel better.”
The EFF says it will also push for the criminalisation of racism in the country.
At the same time, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has commended the quick call to action by the South African public for the racist remarks made Catzavelos.
The foundation’s Zaakirah Vadi says: “I think we should be applauding the public for taking this matter for calling out racism.
“We must ensure that racists who are still blatantly and arrogantly racist are made to pay. And I think it’s quite sad that this takes place after the Penny Sparrow incident.”