/ 9 March 2011

Dismissal of Market Theatre Lab’s Motloung welcomed

The dismissal of head of the Market Theatre’s Laboratory, Matjamela Motloung, following his alleged anti-Semitic comments was welcomed on Wednesday by the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD).

“The SAJBD welcomes the decisive action [against] … Motloung following his racist and anti-Semitic statements that he made on Facebook,” said Gauteng chairperson Jeff Katz in a statement.

“All forms of racism, including anti-Semitism, have no place in South African discourse.”

According to the Sowetan, Motloung wrote on Facebook in January: “OK even when [one] tries to remain civil there is always a Jew lurking and hoping to screw you up, I am growing tired and irritated by how Black theatre producers have to be f***ked over by white mostly Jew producers in the South African Theatre Industry. It saddens me even more when black writers/directors/actors succumb to this reverse holocaust, that is why we continue to die paupers and they are legends.”

Acting chief executive of the Market Theatre Brooks Spector confirmed that Motloung had been dismissed on February 16 “after a formal disciplinary hearing”.

“He was dismissed on the basis of hate speech and bringing the institution into disrepute.” — Sapa