Telecommunications firm Ericsson Vivienne Catherine Basson learned the hard way that what you say on social media can come back to bite you.

Basson who until yesterday was a sub-contractor for the company had her contract terminated after the racist remarks she made on Facebook went viral.

After being involved in an accident with a taxi, Basson decided to vent her frustrations on the social network site.

“Effing "K" taxi. And once again I vote for the death penalty. These savages don't deserve to live. But more importantly Daniel is alive and I am alive. They can rot in hell,” she wrote.

The comment went viral on Twitter and Facebook and within hours Basson found herself out of a job.

Ericsson South Africa M.D Magnus Mchunguzi told SABC news that Basson had ‘breached their business ethics’.

“I do apologise for my unnecessary and hurtful remarks I have made on this public forum. My intention was not to be insensitive nor derogatory,” Basson later wrote.