Magistrate castigates ‘racist’ ANC Government

A public meeting protesting against ‘African racism’ against Indians, whites and coloureds degenerated into a mud-slinging match amid criticism of a senior magistrate’s attack on blacks. The Witness reports the meeting – which started with about 100 people – later degenerated into chaos, with most of the crowd storming out in the middle of the event. Senior Pietermaritzburg Magistrate Ashin Singh – also the convener of the SA Minority Rights Equality Movement (Samrem), which believes that black Africans are more racist than Afrikaners – told the crowd that Indians, whites and coloureds were being oppressed by the ‘racist’ ANC Government and were being targeted because they were hard-working and intelligent. ‘The only black Africans who are at the same level as Indians, whites and coloureds in terms of work ethic are Zimbabweans,’ he said. Lashing out at black Africans who live in informal settlements within Indian communities, Singh said they were part of an ANC plan to influence voting patterns. ‘When they are not happy with government they throw their shit at us,’ he said. He said of homeless black Africans on the streets of Northdale that ‘all they do is to shit and pee on our streets – it’s stinking.’ The government, Singh said, was granting only black students access to university education while blocking ‘intelligent’ Indians.

Singh had taken to the podium shortly after creating drama when he ordered security guards to remove some people from the venue. A policeman, whom Singh described as a ‘spy’ from the police intelligence, was kicked out of the meeting. When ANC Msunduzi councillor Mehmood Oumar questioned the removal of the policeman, he, too, was kicked out. While some applauded Singh, others were outraged. ‘It is very clear that you have taken a particular party political stance on issues and yet you are a magistrate. I’m sorry to say this to you – you are a magistrate but also a racist,’ said Njabulo Mtolo.

Full report in The Witness (subscription needed)