Durban - A man who posted a racist rant on Facebook over Diwali celebrations told the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday that he intended to plead guilty.
Johannes David “Dawie” Kriel faces a charge of crimen injuria for sending the social media post: “To those idol worshippers and devil disciples who buy them in the name of religion, piss-off to your dark hole in the backwoods of India you d***head.”
Prosecutor Roshiela Benimadho said: “The State has been informed that the accused intends pleading guilty in this matter.”
When asked by Magistrate Themba Sishi whether this was the case, Kriel confirmed that it was. Sishi adjourned the case to January 17, for Kriel to formally plead.
Every year, Diwali fireworks celebrations in Durban become a major bone of contention between animal lovers and those who celebrate Diwali with fireworks.
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, which for believers spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.
The Democratic Alliance’s KwaZulu-Natal provincial chairman Haniff Hoosen welcomed the news that Kriel intended pleading guilty.
“The DA had laid a charges of crimen injuria against Dawie Kriel early this month following racist and hurtful comments he made on a Facebook post during the recent Diwali celebrations. Kriel’s comments undermined the dignity of so many people in South Africa, and have no place in our democratic nation,” he said.
The courtroom was filled with a number DA members, including provincial leader Zwakele Mncwango, African National Congress (ANC) members and members of the Economic Freedom Fighters.
The ANC’s provincial secretary Super Zuma also opened a crimen injuria charge against Kriel shortly after his Facebook rant.
In 2016, KwaZulu-Natal has been beset by a number of incidents of racism.
At the start of the year retired estate agent Penny Sparrow found herself in hot water over comments she made comparing black people to monkeys. She had made the comments on Facebook while complaining about the number of black people at Scottburgh’s beaches.
She was found guilty of racism in the Equality Court and ordered to R150,000 to the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation .
Later she was also convicted of Crimen Injuria in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court.
In June, guest house owner Andre Slade found himself in trouble when he told a prospective client that his guest house does not accommodate government employees and black people.
Later when an entourage of several hundred protesting African National Congress members arrived at his doorstep, Slade, who did not appear to comprehend the offense he was causing, made wild claims that black people were made by God to be servants.
“I am your king. I am the king on earth. You should call me Inkosi,” he said at the time.
“When Jan van Riebeeck arrived here as a white man he knew and he could see the difference between himself and others was huge,” said Slade, who added his actions were based on instructions from God.
African News Agency