Safety and Security Minister Steve Tshwete says he has not threatened South Africa's Portuguese community and he does not know of any minority racial group which has been targeted for intimidation by the government.
He was replying in writing to a question in Parliament about his controversial letter to the Portuguese organisers of an anti-crime march.
Portuguese-speaking MP, Mannie da Camara (DA) asked Tshwete whether he had sought legal opinion on whether the contents of his letter "constitutes a threat to the Portuguese community".
Tshwete replied: "I have not sought any legal opinion and it is not my intention even to begin to dream, let alone think, about that kind of action".
The minister was also asked whether it was the government's policy to target minority racial groups for intimidation and if not, why this tactic had been adopted in respect of the Portuguese community.
Tshwete replied: "I do not know of any minority racial group that has been targeted for intimidation by this most democratic government in the history of the country".
He repeated that his letter was never addressed to the Portuguese community, but a specific group which had written "an outrageous memo whose content the Honourable Member chooses to ignore". - Sapa