Politicians unite against racism in viral video incident
Taj Mahal “smells like sh*t”
Political leaders have called for the woman to face strong action
Image: File Photo
POLITICAL leaders have called out a former airline employee for “racist remarks” about Indian people, which was captured in a video circulating on social media.
The woman told a man to “go back to India” and that Indians and the Taj Mahal “smells like sh*t”.
- Haniff Hoosen, the DA’s mayoral candidate for eThekwini, said this type of racial outbursts, which are “becoming more prevalent,” must be rejected and exposed.
“We strongly condemn the racist remarks made in the video circulating online. There is no place for hate speech of any kind in our country. Our diversity is our greatest strength and we must stand together against all forms of racism, whether directed at black, Indian, white, or coloured South Africans. We urge leaders and residents alike to reject division and work toward building a respectful, united community.
“We recognise that the large majority of South Africans want to live in a society that is free from racial division and hatred but there will always be a small group of people who will continue to stoke the flames of racial division in our communities. When this happens, we must all add our voices in condemnation of this unacceptable behaviour as it would be the only way to build a society free from racial division and hatred."
Hoosen said he was convinced that the woman’s behaviour did not reflect the views of the majority of people in the country.
“It is for this reason that we should avoid reacting in the same irresponsible manner as the individual concerned,” he said.
- Member of Parliament for the MK Party, Visvin Reddy, said: “What we have seen in the video is not humour, frustration, or a lapse in judgement. It is racism, plain and simple, and it strikes at the dignity of an entire community.
“South Africans must never forget that apartheid was deliberately designed to divide us along racial lines to classify us, separate us, dehumanise us, and teach us to view one another as other. The psychological and social scars of that system did not disappear in 1994; they continue to surface when racial prejudice is normalised or excused,” he said.
Reddy said racists existed in all communities and across all race groups.
“No community has a monopoly on prejudice. However, we must guard fiercely against the dangerous temptation to label an entire racial group based on the actions of one individual. That is exactly how we play into the hands of racists, particularly those who still benefit from keeping South Africans divided and suspicious of one another.
“There must be accountability. Freedom of expression does not extend to hate speech or racial harassment. This individual must be identified and formally reported to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), which is empowered to investigate racist conduct and recommend appropriate sanctions.
“The fact that such behaviour still exists in our country is a reflection of unresolved inequality, historical trauma, economic frustration, and weak consequences for racist conduct. When poverty and exclusion persist, some individuals redirect their anger toward other communities instead of the real structural causes of suffering. That is why political leadership matters, as it serves to educate, unite, and redirect society toward justice, not division.
“We will only move forward when we remove these racial blinkers, reject racial insults wherever they come from, and work together to rebuild our society. Racism against anyone, Black, Indian, Coloured or White, must be rejected without hesitation."
Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi, leader of the Minority Front (MF), said the person who took the video should have been the first person to report the woman to the SAHRC.
“She can be prosecuted for hate speech. She could be fined or alternatively a charge can be opened in that jurisdiction of criminal injuria.
“We condemn hate speech and racism. The MF will monitor the situation and take further steps once the identities of the individuals involved are established and the due processes commence,” she said.