Facebook racist pleads guilty to charges in court

FACEBOOK racist David Kriel, who wrote derogatory remarks about Indians during Diwali, may be sentenced to pay a fine or serve a term in prison for charges of criminal defamation and crimen injuria.

Yesterday, the DA’s Zwakele Mncwango and the ANC’s Mdumiseni Ntuli, along with other members from each party, watched from the public gallery when Kriel appeared.

According to the charge sheet, Kriel has been charged with the two counts in connection with comments he made on Facebook in October.

Kriel, 58, from the Bluff, was represented by Legal Aid when he appeared in court. He only spoke to confirm he wanted to plead guilty to the charges.

Prosecutor Roshiela Benimadho said she would hand over statements from the docket to legal aid for Kriel’s plea to be prepared.

According to the charge sheet, the charges relate to comments made by Kriel on October 30 when he referred to Indians in South Africa as “Gupta and company”, “devils disciples” and “morons”.

He also wrote “p@#$ off to your dark hole in the backwoods of India, you d@#$ head”.

Kriel and another Durban man, Will McGibbon, made headlines in October when they posted remarks about Indians and Diwali.

Criminal charges were also laid against McGibbon, but his case is yet to come before the court.

The comments were in reference to fireworks displays that took place on the weekend of Diwali.

In his full post on the Facebook group Gatvol Bluff, Kriel said: “To those idol worshippers and devil disciples who buy them (fireworks) in the name of religion.

“I could strangle you morons with my bare hands and derive great pleasure in watching your face turn blue and your tongue pop out.”

Shortly after he made the post, Kriel apologised on the same Facebook group and said he had realised the “foolishness” of his remarks.

Kriel also told East Coast Radio in October he had been “emotional” when he made the comments.