Nair is expected to appear before the Verulam Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 20 September 2018.
The Hawks have confirmed the arrest of a man who posted a video on Facebook, in which he goes on a racial tirade directed at President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In the clip, which has since one viral, Kessie Nair can be heard uttering the following:
“I want to state quite candidly and straightforwardly that I, Kessie Nair, the CEO, founder, and creator of Navcare – the National Association towards Violence Crime and Abuse – do hereby call for that k**fir state President Cyril Ramaphosa – and yes I mean k**fir – to be charged for defrauding the nation … for oppressing this nation … for high treason … for failing … for being soft on all the crime, poverty, violence that prevails in this so-called democracy”
Nair, who is also a former councillor and an ex-convict who had served time in jail for corruption, accused Ramaphosa of oppressing the nation and further called for him to be charged.
He was arrested at his home and faces charges of crimen injuria and incitement of public violence.
Following the backlash, Nair has told various news outlets on Wednesday, 19 September 2018, that he posted the video to get the nation’s attention and that he is prepared to take a bullet or go to prison for the rest of his life.
“Nobody wakes up one morning and makes a statement and a video like that on social media”, he is quoted as saying.
If convicted, he could be the second person in the history of democracy, to be charged for using the apartheid-era slur. Earlier this year, Vicki Momberg was sentenced to an effective two years in prison after her racist rant towards black police officers also went viral.
Thabo Baloyi
t.baloyi@politicalanalysis.co.za
