Politician fights back after K-word allegations

Limpopo Freedom Front Plus (FF+) Leader and Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL), Marcelle Maritz is ready to exchange blows with the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province after the party opened a case of crimen injuria against her for allegedly using the K-word in video footage when reportedly referring to a particular church as one without black people.
The DA member of the National Council of Provinces Beyers Smit and its provincial Chairperson, Geoffrey Tshibvumo laid a criminal case against Maritz at the Polokwane Police Station last Thursday. Maritz claimed that the allegations were not true and she was waiting anxiously to prove her innocence. Although she could not say the exact word she used, she went on to stress that what she said in footage is not what the DA alleges.

“I can prove it now that I did not use the K-word but since the DA opened a criminal case against me I have to wait for the case to go down to prove that I am innocent. I will definitely take steps against the DA because they have ruined my name. Now people see me as a racist. This really hurt the people close to me. I can’t reveal my next step but I can’t let this matter slip without a fight. I will take action against the DA for dragging my name through the mud and ruining my reputation,” Maritz stated.
Smit highlighted that they have also reported Maritz to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and written to the Limpopo Legislature’s Ethics Committee to investigate the matter. He indicated that the FF+ claimed that the footage was taken five years ago when Maritz was a member of the DA. Smit refuted the claims saying the time-stamp on footage that was shared with them by a whistle-blower shows it was taken in 2017 while Maritz was the Limpopo FF+ Leader and a PR Councillor in the Mogalakwena Municipality.
He further alleged that the whistle-blowers confirmed that this is when the video was shot and that the allegations by Maritz are a blatant lie. The witnesses in the footage will also be submitting an affidavit with the provision that their identities be protected, Smit said and added that they would submit the affidavit to the Police and SAHRC.
After learning of the allegations, the office of the African National Congress (ANC) Chief Whip in the Limpopo Legislature issued a statement saying they were shocked that Maritz was making racial retorts and mocking black people in the footage.
It was alleged that Maritz said she wanted to be ‘free from black people’. Provincial Legislature Whip on Research and Acting ANC Chief Whip Jerry Maseko reportedly said they were delighted to have been made aware of the true character of Maritz and that she is a bigot who was in the Legislature to perpetuate a narrow agenda of ‘white supremacy’.
He outlined that the matter has been reported to the Ethics Committee and it should be dealt with as a matter of urgency.
Provincial Legislature media liaison officer Meodi Mothapo indicated that the matter has been brought to the attention of the Limpopo Legislature Speaker, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramak­hanya, who will then refer the matter to the Ethics Committee for further processing.
By the time of going to print comment from Provincial Police Spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe was still awaited while SAHRC provincial manager, Victor Mavhidula could not be reached on his cell phone.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za