The City of Johannesburg has received a complaint emanating from a video in which an official of the City is overheard racially abusing someone.
The City is in possession of the video where the person on the receiving end of the verbal attack is one of the City’s newly insourced security guards.
The incident took place last week at the Eldorado Swimming Pool. The official is overheard regretting the use of school facilities in Eldorado Park by black children and referring in an insulting manner to a so-called “black mentality”.
As the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg and as a man who has weathered the storm of our racist past, I am insulted by what has transpired.
However, I am pleased to report that our Community Development Department has acted swiftyly and suspended the official with immediate effect pending a disciplinary enquiry. I will be taking the security guards who endured this treatment to lay a criminal case of crimen injuria at a police station today.
The City has worked hard to restore the dignity of our security guards through our insourcing efforts and they now enjoy decent wages and benefits. Such deplorable conduct is intolerable by all standards.
There must be no place for racism, it must be condemned and addressed decisively. Racists must never feel that they can operate with impunity or that their behavior is acceptable in any circles.
I have asked the MMC for Community Development, Nonhlanhla Sifumba, to follow this disciplinary case in order to ensure that justice is indeed served.
I call upon the residents of the City to condemn racism, ensure that our collective voice is one that unites our country, overcomes the pain of our past and builds a prosperous and more equitable future for all.
Cllr Herman Mashaba
Executive Mayor
City of Johannesburg
For media queries, contact:
Omogolo Taunyane
Media Specialist: Office of the Executive Mayor
Landline: 011 407 7527
Mobile: 079 451 5211
Email: omogolot@joburg.org.za
