Cape Town - A DA councillor in the City of Cape Town told a black security guard: “Darkies do not belong in Robertson but in the Eastern Cape.”
Junade Hoosain, councillor for ward 46, which includes parts of Manenberg, Penlyn Estate and New Fields, has been found guilty of racism by a city disciplinary committee and faces expulsion from the council.
The disciplinary committee said: “After 20 years of democracy, a community leader cannot be excused for uttering such terms in whatever context.”
Hoosain is a member of the city’s health portfolio committee.
According to the city’s legal department, Mzoxolo Gqowa of Security SA, the company that provides VIP protection to councillors, complained to his employer last year that Hoosain had made the remark to him.
Gqowa also alleged that Hoosain used the k-word.
Juliana Roux, of the city’s legal department, said in a report submitted to the council last week that Hoosain had apologised to Gqowa, who had then withdrawn his grievance.
However, the grievance and Gqowa’s letter of withdrawal “came to the Speaker’s attention” and Dirk Smit asked Hoosain to respond to the allegations, which contravene the council’s code of conduct.
Roux said a three-day disciplinary hearing was held and the disciplinary committee found Hoosain guilty of using the term “darkies” but could not, “on a balance of probabilities”, find him guilty of using the k-word.
Roux said the committee decided that the use of the term “darkie” was “an act of racism” and as such should be regarded in a serious light. As a councillor who was expected to uphold the constitution, Hoosain should have known such a remark would cause offence, even if used generally.
“The committee found that his clean disciplinary record cannot be considered as a mitigating factor in this instance.
“In the circumstances, he was found unfit to continue serving as a councillor,” Roux said.
The council will vote on the committee’s recommendation on Wednesday. The final decision on Hoosain’s expulsion from office rests with Local Government MEC Anton Bredell.
Hoosain did not respond to requests for comment.
Cape Argus