ANC ward councillor posts racist remark

BETHAL – The Govan Mbeki Municipality said in a statement a racist remark made by an ANC ward councillor on his Facebook page, was done as a personal opinion.

Mr Kenny Barrel Nkosi’s timeline says he is a ward councillor at Govan Mbeki Municipality and a ward councillor at ANC.

His Facebook post reads as follows: “the first people that need to fokkof are whites, cubans never oppressed us. these are our true friends they were there in the times on needs. welcom cdes welcom.”

“The matter has been investigated and at the time of the comment, the ward councillor was not representing the views of either the ANC or the Govan Mbeki Municipality, but merely as a personal opinion,” said the municipal spokesman.

“The Speaker of Council has talked with the ward councillor over the matter.”

The ANC said in a statement on 17 June, Congress took pleasure in announcing the visit of the Five Cuban Heroes (Cuban 5) to South Africa from 21 June to 3 July 2015.

The five Cuban nationals were arrested in Miami, Florida on September 1998 and charged with conspiracy to commit espionage.

“In a highly irregular trial in 2001, they were found guilty, even though no evidence was ever produced to prove that they had actually carried out espionage or conspiracy to commit murder, which was a later charge, or that they had conspired in any way to act against the US government or the people of the United States,” reads the statement.

“One of them was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences; two were condemned to one life sentence, and two to sentences of 15 and 17 years, respectively.

“Four of the sentences were later reduced, not the two consecutive life sentences.

“Because of the nature of their dangerous mission, of their selfless sacrifice for their nation and because of the injustices to which they were subjected, they were declared heroes of the Republic of Cuba.

“South Africa has the immeasurable honour of being the first country to host the Cuban Five under the theme Cuban Five Heroes: Tribute to International Solidarity.

“The visit, initiated by the Alliance, is intended to be a celebration of the triumph of international solidarity which led to the release from unjust imprisonment of the Cuban 5.”