Vicki Momberg case was about vengeance, not justice

Convicted racist Vicky Momberg was sentenced to three years in jail, one of which was suspended, by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.

Convicted racist Vicky Momberg was sentenced to three years in jail, one of which was suspended, by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.

Published Mar 31, 2018

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Vicki Momberg this week carved herself a niche in history. It’s not a pretty one, though. It’s a place in infamy. It’s the kind of thing which, to escape the shame, will tempt her offspring to consider changing their surnames or emigrating. 

Momberg has the unhappy distinction of being the first South African to be jailed for a character trait that a generation back was so publicly pervasive as to be unremarkable. For Momberg is a vile, bile-spewing racist.

That’s a form of swamp life found widely in South Africa. The political strain of the species – Hendrik Verwoerd, PW Botha, and that ilk – once had statues erected for them, but is now rarely on display in public. 

The common or garden-variety still swarms at braais and suburban dinner parties. They mostly manifest discreetly, their race-affirming bonding rituals carried out only among similarly inclined specimens. 

Momberg, unfortunately for her, made the mistake of speaking out loudly, clearly and repeatedly. After being a victim of a smash-and-grab, she went on a racist rant and hurled the K-word 48 times at the police officers and emergency operators who were trying to assist her. 

SENTENCED: Convicted racist Vicki Momberg insulted police officers.

Faced with charges of crimen injuria for infringing on the dignity of a police complainant, the witless Vicki did little to help her own case. She wrangled incessantly with her lawyers about fees and court strategy, causing a number of resignations, including that of her pro bono lawyer who withdrew because she was so rude. 

Momberg was also nasty to the black social worker who had to compile a report in mitigation of sentence. But perhaps her biggest mistake was to insist on calling a former colleague as a character witness in her defence.

The man said it was bizarre that she had done so, since they had a terrible working relationship and she had numerous times accused him of defrauding her. He suspected her to be bipolar, had always known her to be racist, and described her as “an absolute lunatic… bad news… (and) a danger to society”.

He is wrong. Despite her unpleasant demeanour and racist nature, Momberg does not endanger anyone. She is offensive, but the only danger she poses is to herself.

The picture that has emerged is one of a seriously off-kilter person, a vitriolic woman unable to control her emotions or curb her tongue. Her blundering failure to issue craven public apologies after the incident, to accept the advice of her legal team, and to avoid antagonising the social workers that could help her, all are evidence of someone unable even to discern her own best interests, never mind act to achieve them.  

The SA Police Union said that it welcomed the three-year sentence imposed on convicted racist Vicki Momberg who verbally abused an off who was assisting her. Picture: Nhlanhla Phillips/ANA

However hurtful her words, they are only words. They do not merit a three-year prison sentence, of which a year is suspended. 

It is an unheard-of sentence anywhere in the civilised world, but is especially outrageous in SA, where people are often sentenced to equivalent terms for far more serious offences, such as rape, bodily harm and culpable homicide. 

Former deputy minister of higher education, Mduduzi Manana, got a R100 000 fine or a year in jail, for assaulting three women. His bodyguards, who assisted in the assault, each got a R30 000 fine, or eight months jail. 

Convicted woman beater and former deputy minister of higher education, Mduduzi Manana, leaving the Randburg Magistrate's Court. PHOTO: Lindi Masinga/ANA

Grant Smith, a Cape Town businessman who tried to kill his business partner, got a four-year sentence and his female co-conspirator got two years suspended.

Also, Momberg has already been punished. Her case was taken up with admirable vigour by the SA Human Rights Commission and in the Equality Court she was ordered to pay R100 000 in restitution to the police officer involved. If only the SAHRC would act so energetically in cases of black racism directed at coloured, Indians and whites. 

Julius Malema, EFF leader, wears a worker’s hard hat as he exits Parliament after being asked to leave by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament during a session with former president Jacob Zuma. Picture: EPA

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has more than once called for white genocide, albeit with a qualification – “not for now” – but has yet to see the inside of a courtroom. 

That is only one of dozens of incidents of often violently threatening black racism that have not been prosecuted and never will be. 

AfriForum in the past year laid charges against 113 blacks who publicly incited rape‚ murder‚ assault and genocide against whites. 

“Up until now‚ no significant progress has been made with these cases‚” the group said.

Magistrate Pravina Raghoonandan’s sentence is so irrationally excessive and so likely to be diluted on appeal – Raghoonandan also, rather spitefully, refused Momberg bail until Wednesday, when her application for leave to appeal will be heard – that one must wonder whether it was made with an eye not on justice but public approval.

The sentence was hailed by the justice minister as deterrent to hate speech. 

And prosecutions boss Shaun Abrahams – the man who was dilatory for years about prosecuting a president on 783 charges of fraud, racketeering and corruption –  proclaimed it a “victory for the rule of law”. 

On the contrary, Shaun. The prosecution was politically motivated, the sentence wildly disproportionate to the crime. This was vengeance, not justice.


* William Saunderson-Meyer is a columnist with the Independent On Saturday. He is @TheJaundicedEye on Twitter.

** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.

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