Justice Dept suspends two employees over racism allegations

The Justice Department has suspended two employees over allegations of racism towards a co-worker.

The two employees allegedly referred to their black supervisor as a monkey and a baboon on social media.

Spokesperson for the Department, Steve Mahlangu, says they only recently became aware of the Facebook statements, which were allegedly posted last year.

“Hence we are investigating as a department. As soon as we became aware of those allegations the department took the initiative to take that matter further so that we can root out the racism within the department. As the department we strongly condemn the racism against one another. We are not going to tolerate racism issues as a department and as a country as a whole.”

Meanwhile, former real estate agent Vicki Momberg has indicated her intention to appeal against the three-year sentence that the Randburg Magistrate’s Court has imposed on her.

One year of the sentence has been suspended for three year on condition that she does not re-offend.

Momberg was found guilty of Crimen Injuria in November last year.

This followed her racist rant towards police officers who were trying to assist her after a smash-and-grab incident. Bystanders recorded the incident and it went viral.

Momberg is the first in South Africa to be jailed for using k-word.

Momberg’s legal team have indicated that they plan to appeal this sentence and are expected to bring a bail application for their client later Monday.

The state has, however, indicated that they will oppose both the appeal and the bail application.

In 2016 a video of Momberg shouting a string of racial slurs at police officers attempting to assist her after a smash and grab went viral.

Earlier, the equality court also found Momberg guilty of hate speech and ordered her to pay a sizable fine – yet another sentence she says she plans to appeal.

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Former real estate agent and convicted racist #VickiMomberg has been sentenced to three years in prison with one year suspended. Should all racists be jailed?

— SABC News Online (@SABCNewsOnline) March 28, 2018