By Antionette Keyser
The Taiwanese-South African siblings who were acquitted last week of assaulting their domestic worker and had forcing her to have sex with their dog, say they have been the victims of discrimination and racism.
Kenny, 26, said on Monday that he and his sister Cheri Wang were discriminated against because they were Asian.
"It was a kind of racism," he said.
"People looked at us differently during the past year."
He said their friends never believed the allegations and charges brought against them, but people who did not know them reacted "differently".
The accusations and the court case also had a negative impact on their business in Pomona, near Kempton Park.
"People didn't like coming to the shop. Stones were thrown at the shop, and people toyi-toyied outside. It scared customers away."
Wang said he was relieved that the truth came out. He said he and his family intended staying in South Africa, despite what happened.
"I've been living in this country for 14 years. I'm half-South African. I will stay here, no matter what."
He said his family still feel a bit insecure.
"We are still a bit scared to walk in the streets. You never know which black man will recognise you and attack you."
They have instructed their legal representatives to sue the state for malicious prosecution, their lawyer confirmed on Wednesday.
Ian du Preez said he had received instructions from the Wangs to draw up the necessary documents.
"We first have to transcribe the court records and go through it, but I believe we have a pretty strong case," he said.
He said the Wangs were the victims of a "trial by media" and were very traumatised by the protest actions outside their Pomona shop in the past year.
"The whole country was in an uproar. You only have to look at the things said in the media, by politicians and several other organisations."
The Wangs had received death threats and had to take extreme care whenever they appeared in public.
Several protests were held at the court when they appeared and also outside their shop.
Reacting to media reports that a spokesperson for the social services department in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, had criticised the judgement and had said that the magistrate was "unfair towards the girl", Du Preez said he does not understand how someone could make such statements.
"Lesufi did not follow the court case. He never was in court. He didn't study the docket. How can he say things like that?"
Du Preez said there had never been a prima facie case against his clients. The court also found that the 19-year-old girl, lied under oath and that she contradicted herself throughout her testimony.
Lesufi said he and his department were not challenging the judgement.
Originally a social worker would have testified on behalf of the girl. When it was decided that the girl would have to testify herself, there was not enough time to prepare her to appear in court.
"That is why we feel the magistrate was too harsh on her."
He said the trust fund that was set up last year when the girl came forward, was being used to take care of her. Because she is 19, and not 15 as originally thought, she could no longer be kept at a place of safety.
"We can't just throw a child out."
According to Lesufi the fund was "not more than R10 000".
The girl had allegedly indicated that she wanted to return to Mozambique, where her grandparents still lived. Lesufi said the money would also be used to reunite her with her family.
Wang and his 24-year-old sister were arrested in April last year when their domestic worker, who was believed to be 15-years-old, complained that they had assaulted her and had forced her to have sex with their Rottweiler dog.
Several charges were brought against the Wangs: assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, indecent assault, pointing a firearm and discharging a firearm in a residential area.
During the trial two animal behaviourists testified that a male dog would not have intercourse with a human for various reasons, one being a vast difference in anatomy between a bitch and a human. - Sapa