A 50-year-old man is appearing in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Friday, after his racist rant on social media caught the attention of the Western Cape Commercial Crimes Unit.

The Unit launched an investigation following a complaint about a video in which the man made derogatory and racist remarks about black South Africans.

In the video, of more than three minutes long, the man expressed his belief that white South Africans are facing imminent harm at the hands of black citizens. He accuses “black, African” people of committing gruesome acts of violence, urging white people to recognise the so-called threat.

He remarked that “one day these black African k****** – that’s what they are, they’re nothing less that – they’re going to go to your house and rape your wife in front of you, kill your daughter, son in front of your eyes, before they kill you”.

He also says that white people are their “own worst enemies”.

“I am a South African person and I want to say something to those white people out there in this world. Wake up. Wake the f- up,” he says in the video.

EFF leader, Julius Malema, and President Cyril Ramaphosa are also referenced in the video.

Police have condemned the remarks, emphasising the importance of responsible social media use. Western Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa warned that failure to do so could have serious legal consequences.

“A stern warning is issued to all social media users to engage on platforms responsibly as failure to do so will have dire consequences,” said Potelwa.

The suspect, apprehended in Jeffrey’s Bay on Wednesday, faces charges of crimen injuria and contravening provisions of the Cybercrimes Act. Police have not ruled out additional charges as investigations continue.