Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Pat Ngomane condemn the attack of a man in eMalahleni allegedly due to his skin color.
This comes after a 21-year-old man (Mthunzi Sibuyi) was reportedly admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital in Pretoria for injuries sustained allegedly from a racially motivated act of assault.
It is believed that Sibuyi was attacked by a man who did not approve of Sibuyi’s interracial friendship with a white woman whom he was spotted with at a Pub in eMalahleni recently.
Police say they have received information that the suspect is going to hand himself in, with his lawyer.
The suspect is facing charges of sexual assault and attempted murder.
Ngomane says that community members should strive to live together in peace irrespective of their skin colour.
He says that this is not acceptable on our society because it has the possibility of perpetrating violence against racial groups.
He further calls on the police to work around the clock to make sure that the perpetrator is brought to book as soon as possible in order to reduce such incidences in communities.
“Any attacks especially those that are motivated by racial discrimination are not going to be tolerated. Police should therefore work hard to bring such rogue acts to an end and send perpetrators to prison,” he said.
The MEC also appeals to the Justice department to ensure that once the suspect is found guilty, he should receive a jail term to show other perpetrators government’s zero tolerance towards hate crimes.
The suspect is expected to appear in court as soon as he hands himself to the Witbank Police Station.
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