City employee speaks out about being called the K-word twice

A CITY of Cape Town employee Runiece Nkopt said she felt dehumanised after a colleague of hers used the K-word to insult her.

Nkopt said: “He was smoking next to his car in the parking lot. As we were passing, he greeted the one colleague and said to me, My reply to him was I don’t want to.

She said there was also another incident before this one when the colleague also used the K-word to insult her. Nkopt said after reporting the person to authorities at work she opened a case of crimen injuria with the police.

“I felt naked, dehumanised, worthless, dirty, belittled and like my dignity has been taken from me.”

She said there were disciplinary hearings, but she wasn’t happy with the outcomes. The employee was found guilty of the charge by the city and was suspended for 10 days without pay.

She then took the matter to the Human Rights Commission and was then referred to Commission for Coalition, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

Nkopt said during the mediation she asked that the employee be moved to another office, so she does not have to see him every day. “The city agreed that it was a fair request, but it is yet to happen.” She said said she is taking the matter for arbitration next.

Mayoral committee member of corporate services Raelene Arendse said the city was aware of the incidents and instituted disciplinary action against the employee concerned. “The employee was disciplined for making racist remarks against a fellow employee. He was issued with a sanctioned 10-day suspension without pay.”

She said such cases do not happen frequentlyand when they do, they investigateand take action immediately.

Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said a man was charged with crimen injuria.