ANC takes DA to court over racism
The ANC instituted proceedings in the Equality Court against Democratic Alliance's Dianne Kohler Barnard and Chris Roberts, and former DA member, Penny Sparrow.
According to a statement by the ruling party, Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe feels the ANC has a moral and legal duty to demonstrate leadership.
"It is our responsibility to prevent racial conflict and warfare. "The applications are being brought in a bid to restore the dignity of the African, Coloured and Indian majority and to defend our Constitution," the statement read.
On Tuesday the ANC lodged an application in the Western Cape High Court against DA Member in the National Assembly, Dianne Kohler Barnard, for sharing a post on Facebook - which it deemed racist. According to the ANC the post constituted hate speech and unfair discrimination.
In his founding affidavit, Mantashe said that Kohler Barnard's call for the return of PW Botha is to call for the return of oppression, repression, detention, torture, maiming and killing of countless African, Indian and Coloured people. He contended that it is in fact a call for the return of the hated system of apartheid itself.
The ANC wants Kohler Barnard to pay R500 000 to an organisation which promotes non-racialism, tolerance and reconciliation in South Africa.
In the Port Elizabeth High Court, the ANC applied for the same relief against DA Councillor in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, Chris Roberts, for calling fellow Councillor, Mongameli Bobani, a "bobbejaan" during debate.
"We also instituted an application against Penny Sparrow in the Scottburgh Magistrates Court in KwaZulu-Natal for her utterances that blacks are monkeys," the statement said.
An application has also been filed against former government employee Velaphi Khumalo in the Roodepoort Magistrates Court for hate speech and unfair discrimination for calling for South Africa to be cleansed of all whites as Hitler did to the Jews.
- Press Release