Groups concerned about lenient sentence for ‘racist’

CONCERNS have been raised that the “lenient” sentence imposed on a Bluff man for making racist comments on Facebook about Diwali will not be enough of a deterrent to other social media racists.

This is according to the SA Hindu Maha Sabha, responding to the R6 000 fine or one-year imprisonment handed down yesterday by Durban magistrate Themba Sishi to Dawie Kriel. This sentence was suspended for five years on condition Kriel was not convicted of a similar offence.

Ashwin Trikamjee, president of the SA Hindu Maha Sabha, said he was not happy with the sentence.

“We were hoping for a sentence that would send out a strong message to members of the public that racist comments would not be tolerated by the justice system of this country,” said Trikamjee.

During Diwali Kriel took to Facebook with a post that said: “To those idol worshippers and devil disciples who buy them (fireworks) in the name of religion, p**s-off back to your dark hole in the backwoods of India, you *&$h#. I could strangle you morons with my bare hands and derive great pleasure in watching your face turn blue and your tongue pop out”.

Nadas Pillay, of the SA Tamil Federation, said they would have been satisfied if community service had been included in the sentence.

Bheki Ntuli, the ANC eThekwini region secretary, said they had expected Kriel to spend at least one year in jail.

The DA’s Zwakele Mncwango said: “We respect the court’s decision and are just worried about the kind of message that it would send out there.” – Staff Reporter