The City Manager learned on Monday, July 31, that an employee wrote an email with the following wording to her colleagues: “Ek is moeg met hierdie bobbejane hier hulle dink ek sal bedank en ek sal nie”.
Speaking in council today, August 3, the executive mayor, Mzwandile Masina, said: “Racism will not be tolerated in the City of Ekurhuleni. We have a dark past of racial injustices and no one will undermine efforts to build a non-racist, non-sexist and democratic society.
“We want to make it clear that we have a zero tolerance approach towards racism and will deal harshly with any instance that is brought to our attention.
“The City views racist conduct as constituting exceptional circumstances as envisaged in law and, as such, the employer can dispense with pre-dismissal procedures.
“This commitment by the City shall be implemented in respect of every aspect of the scourge of racism whether by employees or by members of the community who are conducting business with us.”
He encouraged metro employees and members of the community to report and bring evidence of racist conduct so that the City can squash racism whenever it raises its ugly head.