Cape Town - The Economic Freedom Fighters have warned of “chaos” if Western Cape Premier Helen Zille fails to suspend a Boland safety department official after he allegedly used the k-word during an altercation with a Khayelitsha caterer.
Criminal charges were laid against the official last month after he allegedly chased the woman - who cooks for the department at the Wolwekloof Academy near Wolseley - out of his office, allegedly saying: “Get your black a** out of my office. I don’t speak to k*****”.
The EFF took up the matter to highlight Zille’s silence on a spate of racist attacks in the province.
The city has been rocked in the past month by a wave of racially-motivated assaults, including the assault on a Claremont cleaner and a racial brawl at Cape Quarter which was captured on camera.
In an open letter to Zille, EFF provincial chairman Bernard Joseph said Zille’s silence on the attacks showed she was sweeping racism under the carpet.
“The premier has done nothing. The Department of Community Safety has done nothing. It is quite clear that this man should have been suspended and this matter should have been investigated,” Joseph said.
And the party’s demands came with a threat:
“Should justice not be served we will be forced to take matters into our own hands.”
Joseph said it was up to Zille to restore the people’s trust in her government.
“Failure to do so will erupt in chaos,” he warned.
Confirming the incident, police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said a case of crimen injuria had been laid.
“An arrest has been made and an admission of guilt was issued. The accused must appear at the Wolseley Magistrate’s Court on January 21,” Van Wyk said.
Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said his department viewed the allegations in a serious light and had launched a full investigation.
“Should any wrongdoing be found it will be met with serious disciplinary action.”
Contacted, the caterer declined to comment until the criminal case had been finalised.
Zille’s spokesman Michael Mpofu said the provincial government condemned all racism, from whatever quarter.
“Perpetrators of racism and violent attacks must be held accountable for their actions. The recent incidents are no different.”
It was the responsibility of every citizen, civil society, school and family to condemn racism and act against it.
Mpofu said the Western Cape Government, led by Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Nomafrench Mbombo, was spearheading a campaign focused on creating a culture of respect among citizens.
“The campaign aims to bring all stakeholders, including NGOs, religious organisations, community leaders and other concerned citizens together to come up with solutions on how we can tackle the current lack of tolerance and respect in society.”
Mpofu said in order to achieve their vision of an open opportunity society for all, every citizen needed to work with the provincial government to create a culture of tolerance, respect and non-racialism.
Cape Argus