Johannesburg — Circulation of racist e-mail pictures and messages have of late been haunting the country's workplaces and other institutions.

Former president Nelson Mandela was last year manipulatively illustrated in an e-mail that was circulated among a few companies ­ in what was obviously to be regarded as a racist activity.

FAWU lately expressed their "disgust" at the racist email circulated by Nestle employees at one of the company's plants at Estcourt in the Kwazulu/Natal province.

The e-mail, which is the second to hit the union members within a year, has contents of Black being assimilated to 'lazy' grasshoppers and whites being assimilated to 'hardworking' ants.

The message goes on to present the 'successful' story of a 'wise ant' which works hard collecting grass and relevant supplies in preparation for winter ­ whereas, on the other hand a grasshopper eats the grass, doing nothing in preparation for the future winter conditions.

The 'story' takes an expectable turn: during winter the ant is warm and comfortable when the grasshopper complains about the 'social inequality' ­ between it and the ant.

As the 'story' unfolds, familiar acronyms such as PAGAD and TRC are being twisted into "People Against Grasshoppers Abuse and Distress" and "Take and Redistribute Commission" respectively.

Fawu said the e-mail is ridiculing the turn of events in the history of South Africa and further said the union's National Office Bearers will hold a meeting with the Nestle company management to discuss the issue.

"This kind of attitudes (conveyed in the e-mail) must never be tolerated in any circumstances," said FAWU.

Issued by Moloto Mothapo COSATU Communications Officer, Tel: + 27 + 11 + 339- 4911 Fax: + 27 + 11 + 339-2281 E-mail: nowetu@cosatu.org.za.