“The phenomenon of dealing with racism in South Africa in a selective manner needs to be thoroughly investigated and analysed,” said Connie Mulder, head of the Solidarity Research Institute on Tuesday.

Solidarity said: ''According to Mulder, a tendency is emerging in South Africa in terms of which white racist lightweights are heavily punished for racist slurs, whereas black heavyweights are handled with kid gloves when they commit racial slurs.''

The union also filed a complaint at the SAHRC against North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo, claiming he incited race-based violence in the small town of Coligny.

Mahumapelo made the remarks that Solidarity considered offensive at the funeral of teenager Matlhomola Moshoeu who died after reportedly being nabbed stealing sunflowers by Pieter Doorewaard, 26, and Philip Schutte, 34.

The two were granted bail and there has been outrage in the form of protests before and after their court appearances.

Solidarity also plans to submit an ''early warning complaint to the United Nations’ Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)," in Geneva.

This could lead to a formal inquiry and a visiting delegation which would assess Solidarity's complaints of selective racism.

The union also plans to petition Parliament about ''selective racism", the International Human Rights Commission, and the International Labour Organisation.

It said that about 405 000 South Africans have signed a petition supporting its complaint.

The complaint forms part of Solidarity’s overall #StopRacism campaign.

Solidarity believes the SAHRC itself is selective in the way it handles complaints related to racism.

''For example, the SAHRC has not investigated any high profile black South Africans like Julius Malema, Jacob Zuma, Lulu Xingwane, or any other for that matter, but ordinary white South Africans like Penny Sparrow, Chris Hart and Justin van Vuuren have been investigated at the SAHRC’s own initiative.''

News24