Councillor’s R10 000 fine seen as slap on the wrist

A HUMAN rights group has described the R10 000 fining of Sea Point DA ward councillor Shayne Ramsay, who referred to homeless people as criminals and mentally retarded, as a slap on the wrist.

The disgraced Ramsay reportedly pleaded guilty at a disciplinary committee. A report from the committee was to be discussed at a full council meeting today. It was reported that the committee had unanimously accepted Ramsay’s guilty plea.

Ramsay last year took to Facebook, slamming homeless people by placing a condition on tolerating them in Sea Point and stating that “they would have to behave in a manner which is acceptable to other residents”.

Ramsay also called on her followers to stop giving money to “beggars, street people and car guards” – a move she claimed would force them “to move elsewhere”.

She announced a planned march “against grime” scheduled for December 6, which was later called off after a social media backlash.

Dean Ramjoomia, the head of the Nehemiah Call Initiative, which represents the city’s street people, said the organisation welcomed “the action from the DA, notwithstanding that it’s a slap on the wrist. However, we insist on a public apology directly to the people”.

Ramsay said yesterday: “I have already apologised unreservedly to anyone who found my comments hurtful.”