Racist attack on Devi Sankaree Govender

TOLD TO GO BACK TO INDIA

- NADIA KHAN

AWARD-WINNING investigative journalist Devi Sankaree Govender has become the target of racial slurs following an exposé on her television show.

The incident has reignited discussions about racism in South Africa, with experts noting that such attacks reflect deeply entrenched issues still prevalent more than three decades into democracy.

Sankaree Govender has firmly responded that she is a “5th generation South African” and is “staying right here, where I belong”.

In a recent Facebook post, she shared screenshots in which derogatory comments were made by two users.

In the first comment, Matthys Oosthuizen said: “F**k off to india hindu.”

A second person, Kyle Van der Watt, commented: “Why you playing with the afrikaaners. This k**ie.”

In her online post, Sankaree Govender said the racial slurs broke her heart.

“Something needs to be said about the abuse I am experiencing on social media. I don’t get to choose the colour of our crooks — so insisting that I am anti-white or anti-Afrikaans is ludicrous,” she wrote.

She said the scammers, who featured on the show, came from all race groups.

“I have never received this kind of hate from the black, coloured or Indian communities when somebody from their ethnic group is featured.

“The work that #TheDeviShow takes on, every day, is both dangerous and exhausting but we are a kick-ass team who pitch up every day, trying to make our country a better place. My question to the #dumbasses — what is your contribution besides shooting the messenger?”

At the end of her post, Sankaree Govender commented, “PS. I am 5th generation South African. I'm staying right here, where I belong.”

Reaction: