Debate on racist poster blocked

THE DA and its coalition partners blocked a debate yesterday on a racially divisive notice which called for “non-whites” to use a separate toilet, forcing the ANC to turn to the police to probe the matter.

Senior Bay ANC leaders then opened a case of crimen injuria against DA Ward 40 (Kuyga) councillor Jason Grobbelaar at the Kabega Park police station.

The ANC believes Grobbelaar is behind the mysterious notice that was pasted on the front door of the Kuyga Community Hall, where his office is. However, he denies it. The DA’s chief whip, Werner Senekal, said his office was investigating the matter and acting city boss Johann Mettler was also probing the incident.

The ANC delegation was led by councillors Litho Suka, Bicks Ndoni and Andile Lungisa.

The notice, which no one has claimed, read: “Down stairs tiolets for non-whites or if you black wearing EPWP overall – by order councillor office.”

The ANC’s decision to open the case followed Ndoni’s unsuccessful motion of exigency, when he tried to get it to debate the allegations.

Ndoni said the allegations – published in The Herald yesterday – were very serious.

“I was hoping to raise a matter that reflects serious problems in our society that happened in Ward 40, which appeared on the front page of our daily newspaper,” Ndoni said.

“This council should reflect upon the matter and be addressed as such.”

But Senekal said: “It’s a serious question that is under investigation by me and the city manager’s office.

“So, it’s a bit premature to call for motions when we are still busy with the investigation.”

But the ANC was not happy, with councillor Rory Riordan saying he felt that Senekal would not be objective as he had told The Herald on Wednesday that he believed the notice had been orchestrated by the ANC.

When put to a vote on whether or not Ndoni’s motion should be entertained, Lungisa shouted that deputy mayor Mongameli Bobani (UDM) had been insulted in this same chamber by former DA councillor Chris Roberts, who had referred to him as “councillor bobbejaan”.

“Bobani, Ayingumntu lo [This is not a person].

“Last year, you were insulted in this council and now you vote with these people. You don’t stand for anything,” Lungisa shouted.

The ANC said it had opened the case because it wanted Grobbelaar to be expelled from the council.

The DA won Ward 40 from the ANC in the August 3 polls.

Grobbelaar denied on Wednesday he or his staff were behind the notice, but declined to comment yesterday.

ANC regional spokesman Gift Ngqondi condemned the racist poster.

“This is a simple truth that the DA just doesn’t understand, and that is that the equal treatment of unequal people is simply to perpetuate injustice and exploitation,” Ngqondi said.

He said the ANC would refer the matter to the Human Rights Commission for investigation.

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Alwin Labans confirmed that a case of crimen injuria had been opened.