Magistrate speaks out on ‘racial attack’

Magistrate Mphafolane Koma of the Randfontein Magistrates’ Court spoke out about the incident in which he was ‘racially attacked’, in an interview with the Herald.

Koma alleges he was attacked by a man on Monday, 9 May, after being the first to pull off after they had both stopped at an intersection at the same time. The man then smashed the windows of Koma’s BMW with a hammer and called him the K-word.

Koma told the Herald he was driving in Pretoria North with his 12-year-old daughter in the vehicle when he came to a stop at an intersection. He explained that although it was his turn to go, he had to hit his brakes hard to prevent an accident when a vehicle appeared on his left. The vehicle then turned into the road where he was standing and passed him on the right. Koma says the man seemed furious, and gave him a middle finger gesture.

“All I did was shrug my shoulders, but then I saw the man in the vehicle make a u-turn and begin following me. The next moment he came past me and blocked my vehicle.

I could not understand his behaviour, since it was my turn to go. He was in the wrong.

“The man then jumped out of his vehicle with a hammer and started bashing the windows of my vehicle. My daughter witnessed the whole incident.”

Koma added he was still in his vehicle when all of this occurred. “The man then uttered the K-word, seeming ready to attack me.”

However, the suspect drove off, but not before Koma’s daughter took down the registration number of his car. This lead to the suspect being arrested the following day. The suspect then appeared in the Pretoria North Regional Court where he was initially denied bail. However, the suspect reappeared in court on Monday, 16 May, was granted bail of R3 000, and was released from custody. He will appear in court again on Friday, 27 May.

“As a Magistrate, I am not surprised by the outcome of the second bail application as I understand that it is part of the justice system. The suspect’s lawyer indicated he will be pleading guilty,” said Koma.

According to Koma his daughter is coping well, but he has taken her for counselling because he doesn’t want her to develop a bad attitude towards white people.

“The suspect seems to have thought he was superior to me because of his colour,” Koma said.

When asked whether he thought this incident would have occurred if he were white, Koma answered, “No, I do not believe it would have.

The use of the K-word leads me to believe this was nothing but a racist attack.”

Koma added it is not clear whether the suspect knew him, or had anything to do with the cases he has handled or is currently handling.

“Racism, from all angles, remains a big problem in South Africa. A lot of work needs to be done before everyone accepts that we are all equal. God loves all of us; we are all created in his image,” Koma said.

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Also read:

R’fontein Magistrate’s alleged attacker granted bail

R’fontein Magistrate’s vehicle smashed with hammer

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