Durban - Phumlani Mfeka, a member of the controversial pressure group, Injenje yama-Nguni, is again in hot water as he faces possible criminal charges and a fresh hate speech prosecution over his comments attacking Indians.
This comes after the South African Minority Rights Equality Movement (Samrem) said on Sunday it had pressed criminal charges with the Prestbury police and also took Mfeka to the Equality Court in Pietermaritzburg.
Samrem’s Ashwin Singh made the announcement when premier Senzo Mchunu was a guest on a LotusFM talk show, when Mfeka’s remarks were discussed.
While the opening of new charges against Mfeka could not be confirmed with authorities, Singh provided the Daily News with a police case number as well as a copy of the court papers filed at the Equality Court.
Singh said they took action because there had been no progress on a complaint they had lodged with the Human Rights Commission two years ago. He said Mfeka’s conduct constituted crimen injuria and that he should be prosecuted.
“His comments also constitute hate speech, intimidation and incitement to commit violence,” he said.
Singh also said Mfeka needed to be stopped from making anti-Indian comments and that there was no more time for dialogue with him.
“There comes a time when you have to end the talks,” he said, referring to previous talks with the MAF (Mazibuye African Forum), which Mfeka was once involved in.
MAF had claimed in 2013 that Indians were in control of the province’s economy and called for their exclusion from affirmative action and black economic empowerment.
This had prompted the provincial government to form a task team to analyse awarding of tenders since 2004.
“Mfeka referred to the 1949 and 1985 attacks on Indians which seem to encourage further attacks,” Singh said.
Mfeka’s remarks on the Indian attacks sparked an application by the provincial government, which was granted an interim interdict.
Mfeka has until Tuesday to oppose an interim interdict granted.
On Thursday, he will appear before the Equality Court in Pietermaritzburg in a matter that was initiated by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Human Rights Commission.
On Sunday, Mfeka told the Daily News he had read in a newspaper of Samrem’s plan to open criminal charges against him.
“I am not concerned by the action they take. In fact, I welcome it,” he said.
Mfeka also said he would not oppose the interim interdict on Tuesday.
“I will continue to speak the truth,” he said, adding that any action taken against him would provide an opportunity to test if people shared his views.
Asked if he would not be in contempt of court with his action, Mfeka said: “If speaking the truth is contempt of court, let it be.”
Daily News
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