What’s good for one racist is good for another

The judicial system should invoke the principle of restorative justice, writes

INathan Cheiman

concur entirely with Sydney Majoko’s column “AfriForum misses Momberg point” (The Citizen, April 3). Racism of any kind is unacceptable in a country that is still trying to heal itself.

However, what is appropriate in one case is also appropriate in the other case.

Velaphi Khumalo will soon stand trial in the Equality Court before Judge Roland Sutherland, for crimen injuria.

He is alleged to have said ( inter alia) “I want to cleans (sic) this country of all white people.”

While I doubt that he will be sentenced to prison, despite the fact that he has admitted guilt, it will be interesting to note the different approaches displayed by the two independent judicial officers, in each case.

That is not to say that Khumalo’s utterances are less indecent, but a sentence of imprisonment is indeed too severe for a crime such as crimen injuria.

There should be an attempt by the judicial system to invoke the principle of restorative justice, to prevent a relapse of a similar crime being committed.

Black people did suffer the brunt of racism but that does not mean whites are immune to crimen injuria.