DA goes to SAHRC after ANC refuses to take action against its MP

The Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday that it will ask the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to probe African National Congress (ANC) MP Bongani Mkongi’s “insensitive and inciting remarks”.

The DA’s chief whip in Parliament‚ John Steenhuisen‚ said: “It has been 10 days since…Mkongi‚ called on members of the public to not only burn down an ‘anti-Zuma’ billboard in the Cape Town CBD‚ but the building it appeared on and its occupants as well.

“That same evening Mr Mkongi also referred to members of the media and public as “stupid white people” in an unsavoury social media post.”

But‚ continued Steenhuisen‚ “to date the ANC has failed -and their chief whip in Parliament‚ Stone Sizani‚ even refused — to take any disciplinary action against Mr Mkongi”.

He said the DA will now involve the SAHRC to investigate Mkongi’s and consider criminal proceedings “if need be”.

“Mkongi’s remarks were simply unacceptable and only served to separate South Africans in a time when we should be trying to find each other.

“The DA remains committed to the eradication of racism and will do everything in its power to ensure our nation’s democratic and reconciliatory principles are upheld.”