Islamaphobic message: e-mail not hacked as first claimed

AN NMMU staff member has backtracked on claims that her e-mail was hacked after her Islamaphobic message went viral on social media.

Administrative assistant Hazel Kendrick now says, through her lawyer, that the mail was private and was never meant to be disseminated in the public domain.

When Kendrick’s e-mail complaint about a mosque operating in Westering went viral, along with a rant about Muslims trying to “push their religion on the western world” she claimed her e-mail account had been hacked.

The e-mail read: “It seems that Muslim[s] love to push their religion on the western world and expect us to tolerate and accept this, but it is about time that we as western[ers] stand up and say enough is enough.”

According to Kendrick’s attorney, Craig Jessop, she had not given consent for the dissemination of the e-mail on social media.

Jessop said the e-mail was meant as a private communication between Kendrick and selected individuals and it had not been her intention to publicise the e-mail on social media.

After the e-mail became public, Kendrick apologised to the Muslim community.

Jessop said his client was grateful for the opportunity to have tendered an unconditional apology to the Muslim community.

He said he had also engaged with senior Muslim leaders and was awaiting a response from them on whether the apology had been accepted and whether she could convey the apology in person.

Meanwhile, NMMU, which was investigating the matter as the e-mail was sent from Kendrick’s university e-mail account, said a decision on what action it would take had been made and Kendrick would be informed today.

NMMU spokeswoman Zandile Mbabela said interviews were held with all the necessary parties, including Kendrick and leaders of the Muslim community.

“A report with recommendations based on the investigation outcomes has been referred to the university’s human resources directorate to make a decision . . . in accordance with the university’s policy,” she said.

“Human resources has made a decision on how this matter will proceed going forward.

“This will be communicated to the staff member during the course of the day [today].”

Sadick Davids, an Amier of the Westering Muslim community, confirmed they had received the letter of apology from Kendrick’s lawyer.

He said another meeting would most likely take place this week, when they would look to resolve the issue.