South Africa needs a “Racial Harmony Programme”‚ the Congress of the People (Cope) said on Tuesday.

“Merely condemning racism will not make it vanish. Merely condemning racists will not help to reform them‚” said the party’s Dennis Bloem in the wake of racist social media posts that were widely condemned a day earlier

The issues stemmed from South Coast estate agent Penny Sparrow‚ apparently angered by the presence of black people on beaches on New Year’s Day‚ posting on Facebook: “From now I. Shall address the blacks of South Africa as monkeys as I see the cute little wild monkeys do the same pick drop and litter.”

Standard Bank economist Chris Hart also became embroiled was suspended by his company for comments made about the growth of “entitlement” in the country.

There comments were widely condemned.

“Very clearly the time has come to establish a Racial Harmony Programme to educate South Africans on harmonious coexistence‚” Bloem said.

“Since 1994‚ incidents of racism have occurred unabated. The last few months‚ however‚ have really taken South Africa back.”

Bloem said that “freedom fighters like Dr Beyers Naude (fondly called Oom Bey)‚ and Bram Fisher must be turning in their graves when they hear such disgusting comments as made by Mr Hart and Ms Sparrow”.

“Many of us fought all our lives against racism because we wanted to build a united South Africa. If we do not fight to stamp out all vestiges of racism‚ our struggles of the past will have been in vain.

“Cope‚ like the majority of South Africans‚ is extremely disappointed with Mr Hart and Ms Sparrow for taking us back. We are also worried about the frequency with which these comments are made via social media. It is quite clear that such ideas and such thoughts as Hart and Sparrow expressed are still dominant in closed circles.

“While there is acceptance for such sentiments within family and social circles‚ racism will live on and manifest itself in unguarded moments.”