Political parties blast racist Diwali posts
The ANC and DA believe the social media comments were racist and prejudiced views against Hindus celebrating Diwali.
TWO political parties, the African National Congress (ANC) in KZN and the Democratic Alliance (DA), have filed criminal charges against a man and other individuals who spread derogatory and hateful speech against Hindu communities celebrating Diwali (festival of lights), at the weekend.
The racist comments went viral on social media platforms, causing a group of Hindus to approach the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) who are now also investigating the incidents.
The ANC claimed that the string of social media posts denigrating the Hindu community’s celebration of Diwali harks back to the crude apartheid past.
“The ANC remains resolute in its campaign to continue building the non-racial country by isolating racists who are still hiding in our communities,” said Mdumiseni Ntuli, ANC provincial spokesman.
The ANC provincial secretary, Super Zuma led the party delegation to lay charges of crimen injuria against several individuals at the Durban Central Police Station and Durban Equality Court earlier today.
The DA KwaZulu-Natal provincial leader, Zwakele Mncwango, also opened a crimen injuria case at Brighton Beach Police Station, against a resident who lives in the Bluff, following his racist Facebook postings where he attacked the Hindu community during Diwali celebrations.
The case will now be investigated by the SAPS.
The DA was horrified at the racist and prejudiced views expressed by the man, which they said undermined the dignity of so many people in South Africa.
“This goes against the values and principles protected in our Constitution. The DA encourages all South Africans to stand together to fight against racism by condemning the attitudes of the few who seek to divide us. South Africa belongs to all of us,” said Mncwango.
