DA KZN calls racial slur on councillor an attack on Indian community

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The DA in KwaZulu-Natal says the slur by an unidentified councillor at an eThekwini council meeting last week was a vicious and calculated attack against the South African Indian community.

It emerged that the councillor in question yelled “Go back to Bombay” at DA councillor and Chief Whip Yogis Govender during a debate on a monument honouring the arrival of Indian Indentured Workers in South Africa in 1860.

Tomorrow marks 164 years since the arrival of Indians in the country.

DA deputy leader in KZN, Sthembiso Ngema says the inflammatory comment is symptomatic of deep-seated racism that still exists among many politicians.

He said despite there being Indians within the ranks of the ANC who have a solid struggle history, there are those who continue to devalue those within the Indian community.

“For one, to just undermine the Indian community in South Africa and also throw in the racist comments like the one that was thrown in Council is uncalled for and as the Democratic Alliance, we are not going to accept this. We are going to pursue this with the Speaker’s office for his failure to protect others against racism in Council.”

Meanwhile, the eThekwini Municipality released a statement last week condemning the racist remark.

The Municipality says it is investigating further.

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