A father of two, Lazarus Malatji (57), recently suffered an alleged racial attack in Vereeniging after a 22-year-old white male followed him for driving in the wrong direction on a one-way road.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) regional chairperson and Midvaal Local Municipality Executive Mayor Bongani Baloyi wants the SA Human Rights Commission to investigate the reported racist attack suffered by 57-year-old Lazarus Malatji in Vereeniging recently, reports the Sedibeng Ster.
This after the father of two was allegedly beaten by a 22-year-old white male who allegedly repeatedly called Malatji the k-word during the assault. The alleged assailant reportedly continued uttering the racist slur at police officers who arrived at the scene.
Malatji drove up a one-way road, allegedly without realising it, and this is what is said to have prompted the culprit to follow and attempt to block Malatji’s car. When the man finally caught up with Malatji at the service station, he allegedly punched and beat Malatji while hurling the racial slur at him.
Baloyi said: “The DA welcomes that charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm have been laid against the alleged assailant. However, the matter cannot stop there. The racial motivation behind this reported attack must be dealt with.
“The DA is committed to change that brings order and builds one South Africa for all. Our constitution dictates that South Africans are equal and states in no uncertain terms that there is no room for racism in our democracy.’
Speaking to another publication, Malatji said this was the first time he went through something like that, adding that, as old as he is, he could barely defend himself.
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