Standard Bank on Monday announced that prominent economist Chris Hart, who earlier this year had been at the centre of a storm around tweets deemed racist, had left the bank.
Standard Bank spokesperson Ross Linstrom confirmed that Hart, “an Investment Strategist at Standard Bank Wealth and Investment has resigned and has left the employ of the bank”.
In early January the bank had suspended Hart, over a controversial tweet which read: “More than 25 years after Apartheid ended, the victims are increasing along with a sense of entitlement and hatred towards minorities…”
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 post drew wide criticism on Twitter and Facebook, with users calling on Standard Bank to fire him over the “racist undertones” in his tweet.
Hart later apologised and said his tweet was meant to be read in the context of the slow economic growth.
We do not endorse comments made by @chrishartZA yesterday https://t.co/Hjat3ruPaJ
— Standard Bank SA (@StandardBankZA) January 4, 2016
At the time Standard Bank distanced itself from the comments. – African News Agency (ANA)
