The DA in the Eastern Cape has threatened to report Nelson Mandela Bay EFF councillor Zilindile Vena to the SA Human Rights Commission for racially offensive comments made about provincial leader Nqaba Bhanga.
Bhanga said yesterday he was offended when Vena referred to him as a “house n****” on social media.
An unapologetic Vena challenged the DA to “bring it on”.
Vena’s comment posted on Bhanga’s Facebook page on Friday was in response to Bhanga’s “good morning” status update.
In his comment, Vena attached a screenshot of Bhanga’s previous status update in which he had posted: “I love white people, then what.”
Vena’s comment is not sitting well with the DA.
Bhanga said: “As a party, we are considering laying charges with the human rights commission because we have to teach individuals that the constitution is very clear about human rights.
“We are a nonracial South Africa, therefore we can’t use words that reduce and undermine the dignity of others.
“Using the K-word, calling people n****s, is wrong and politicians should learn that there are consequences.”Vena said Bhanga’s status update saying “I love white people” was an attempt by Bhanga to downplay SuperSport presenter Ashwin Willemse’s on-screen walk-off from the studio the night before.
Willemse directed pointed comments at fellow former Springboks Naas Botha and Nick Mallett before walking off set two weeks ago, saying he could not “work with people who undermine other people”.
Vena said: “The DA is struggling with racial matters and Bhanga is trying to cover this with these comments.
“They can lay charges anywhere because this is a political agenda.
“I will continue to remind Bhanga of his political suicide and how he betrayed the struggle against white privilege until he comes to his senses and leaves the DA.”
The comments caused a stir on social media, with Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Athol Trollip saying the party would take the matter to the human rights commission.“The provincial leadership is discussing what action to take about Vena’s behaviour and racist comments,” Trollip said.
“Because no one should be allowed to make statements like that with impunity – and the EFF and Vena seem to think they can.”
He said Bhanga had been disgusted by Vena’s comments.