Motata explains his ‘boer’ tirade
AfriForum accuses judge of using offensive language
‘‘ ‘Boer’ is meant to depict white people as racist, bullies
Retired Judge Nkola Motata did not consider himself drunk on the night in January 2007 when his vehicle crashed into the wall of a Johannesburg home.
Motata took to the stand yesterday to answer complaints lodged against him.
The complaints arose from an incident that occurred when Motata crashed into the wall of a house in Hurlingham.
He was convicted of driving under the influence.
AfriForum complained that Motata allegedly made some racist remarks against Richard Baird‚ the owner of the house.
Motata allegedly said at the scene: ‘Yes‚ but you know all of you‚ let me tell you‚ most of us this is our world‚ it is not the world of the boers. Even if they can have big bodies‚ South Africa is ours.”
Motata told the tribunal he did not consider himself drunk on the evening of the accident in question.
He explained that he spoke those words in Setswana to the traffic officers at the scene and he did not consider the word “boer” to be racist at all.
“The word ‘boer’ is meant to depict white people as racist and bullies...,” AfriForum’s CEO Kallie Kriel said.
Motata said he crashed into Baird’s wall as he was doing a three-point-turn move.
“There was a car coming. I may have put too much on the accelerator to give way to the car while I was reversing‚” he said.
Motata said he met the tenant of the house‚ and indicated he wanted to fix the damage. However, the tenant indicated that it was better to wait for Baird who did not live far away.
Motata said when Baird arrived after about an hour‚ he took the keys from his vehicle.
“I said there was no reason for him to do that‚” Motata said.
The Judicial Conduct Tribunal is investigating: Whether the statements
● made by Motata at the scene of the accident can be classified as racist;
If so‚ whether these statements
● rendered him guilty of misconduct; and
Whether the manner in
● which Motata conducted his criminal defence during his criminal trial was inconsistent with the ethics of judicial office‚ thereby rendering him guilty of gross misconduct.
Closing arguments in the hearing would be delivered tomorrow.
Even though Motata retired last year‚ judges on retirement are paid for life, with benefits.