SAHRC to hand over findings in Zwelithini probe
The SA Human Rights Commission will on Monday serve its preliminary report on king Goodwill Zwelithini regarding its investigation into alleged xenophobic statements he made about foreigners in South Africa.
The commission said in a statement it had completed its preliminary investigation into the alleged anti-foreigner utterances Zwelithini allegedly made during a moral regeneration event in Pongola in northern KwaZulu-Natal on or about March 15.
The commission received 31 different complaints between April and June through its provincial offices.
The complainants alleged that the king’s comments amounted to hate speech against foreign nationals, while some linked the utterances to the subsequent violent attacks against foreigners.
“The commission has now completed its investigation, and has prepared its preliminary report in this regard. This preliminary report will be served on the respondent (the king), and the 31 complainants [on Monday].
“This process is an opportunity for the complainants and the respondent to comment on the preliminary findings and recommendations of the commission, before the commission issues the final report.”
The parties would be given until the end of January 2016 to submit comments, if any. The final report was expected to be released by the end of February 2016, the SAHRC said.
Zwelithini has publicly denied that his comments were xenophobic or that they incited attacks on foreigners.
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