According to Meisie Nogqala, she and her family members were repeatedly called “k****rs” by their white neighbour during one incident.
Describing the event, she said they were inside their house, when they heard loud screams outside.
“We went to investigate and, as we arrived at the front gate, we encountered one of our neighbours, who appeared very angry,” she explained.
“He confronted us and began hurling racial slurs.
“We asked him why he was being rude to us, but he continued with his racial ranting. He repeatedly used the k-word until his father-in-law came to calm the situation.”
The family took serious offence to the verbal attack and reported the matter to the Boksburg SAPS.
The police confirmed that a case of crimen injuria was registered against the man in question, and that the investigation into the matter continues.
The family later established that the trouble started after another neighbour – a panicked young woman – was yelling for help after her three-month-old child lost conscious.
“Our neighbour [the accused] apparently heard the commotion before we did and went to check what was going on,” said Nogqala’.
“We were thus accused of not helping the woman immediately, but, come on, was it necessary to call us the k-word for not reacting quickly to the emergency?
“He must learn to get along with all races. To be called the k-word in 2015 is unbelievable.”
The complainant has forwarded a text message that the accused sent to her phone, apologising for his action, to the Advertiser.
* In another racist incident, an Ekurhuleni employee – a white woman – working at the Boksburg Civic Centre, allegedly called two EMPD security officers ”baboons” and ”k****rs”.
According to Sandile Ngwenya, one of the complainants, the woman was involved in an argument with him and his colleague over the underground parking at the civic centre.
“Her car didn’t have the parking disc required by all vehicles which use the parking, so we denied her entry,” he said.
“She turned rude and swore at us.”
Finance Systems and Management Information Systems divisional head Tebogo Mokone said he is aware of the allegations against his subordinate and that he is dealing with the matter.
Mokone said it is never acceptable to use the k-word under any circumstances.
“It does not matter who you are, it should not be tolerated,” he added.
”I have spoken to both the accused and complainants. I have also asked the complainants to provide me with some form of evidence, such as video footage and witnesses, and they are not forthcoming.”
In terms of the evidence, Ngwenya said they have provided the department with the contact details of witnesses and it is the responsibility of the person investigating the matter to contact the witnesses.
The complainants’ desired solution to the matter is for the alleged racist employee to be dismissed or removed from their area of operation. – @FanieFLK
