State mum on Ramaphosa action after slur
The state has refused to divulge whether President Cyril Ramaphosa has submitted a statement against former Durban councillor Kessie Nair‚ who called him the k-word in a video that went viral on social media.
Prosecutor Sam Bhartu told the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday that the investigation was still at an early stage, so he would not address the defence’s question on whether the president had filed a statement.
During Nair’s second court appearance his lawyer, Chris Gounden, questioned how there could be a charge of crimen injuria against Nair when there was no statement filed by the complainant.
The complainant is listed as Ramaphosa.
Nair – who served six years in prison for corruption and claims to have once been a member of the notorious 26s prison gang – has been charged with seven counts of crimen injuria and two of incitement for his widely circulated racist rant on video and social media.
In the video, he calls for Ramaphosa to be charged for defrauding the nation‚ for oppressing the nation‚ for high treason‚ for “being the source [of] all crime and violence and poor healthcare and poverty in this so-called true democracy”.
In a written post‚ Nair says: “Let me go down in history‚ becoming the first and last man to called (sic) the number one citizen‚ the state president the k-word.
“Achieved my goal‚ now I’m ready to die‚ for my intended message is public knowledge.”
Nair intended to apply for bail on Wednesday.
However, the state brought an application for him to be sent for mental observation.
Bhartu told the court that the district surgeon who had assessed Nair shortly after his arrest recommended that he be sent for mental observation.
Dr Shikar Bhagwandeen said in his affidavit that Nair did not display signs of mental illness but was delusional.
He said the video had not been preconceived and during his assessment‚ Nair had acknowledged that it was inappropriate.
Bhartu then read out a statement by Nair’s ex-wife, Visanthi‚ who said that he was not racist but had serious mental issues.
The matter was adjourned to October 1.