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Sharlene Rood and Chanté Schatz, News24
Former Durban councillor and convicted fraudster Kessie Nair says he called President Cyril Ramaphosa the k-word in a Facebook video to "get the nation's attention".
Nair, who was sentenced to six years in prison for fraud in 2005, said it took 13 years of introspection to release the controversial video.
"Nobody wakes up one morning and makes a statement and a video like that on social media," Nair told News24. "No one in his right mind."
In a widely circulated video, Nair says he is prepared to take a bullet or go to prison for the rest of his life.
"I... do hereby call for that k****r state president Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, yes I mean the k****r state president Cyril Ramaphosa, to be charged for frauding [sic] this nation, for oppressing this nation, for high treason, for failing and he's the source to all crime violence poor healthcare, poverty that prevails in a so-called true democracy," he said in the video which is almost five minutes long.
'Words will not hurt you'
"The marches, the Mandela Days is a total mockery to the blood, the sacrifices of Nelson Mandela," he continued.
Nair told News24 that people shouldn't judge him by this single post, but rather look at all the social justice posts he's made previously on social media.
Describing himself as a "recovering alcoholic" and "recovering compulsive gambler", Nair described his incarceration as a time in which he rid himself of fear by calling fellow inmates the k-word.
"How is it possible that I could say this same k-word to the most dangerous gangsters and come out alive? Words will not hurt you; it will not shed your blood," he said.
Cases opened
Former eThekwini councillor Brandon Pillay opened a case of crimen injuria against Nair at the Bayview police station in Durban on Wednesday morning.
"I cannot tolerate or stand for this kind of racial abuse. I'm disgusted that an individual can use this term, knowing very well the kind of historical abuse South Africa has endured," said Pillay.
"I had to open a case because we cannot allow a man like this to use such terrible words on social media. He must be arrested and charged."
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) launched an investigation spearheaded by its KwaZulu-Natal office on Wednesday.
"We are concerned by statements of this nature as they do damage and break the social fabric that our constitutional democracy is based on - especially considering our diverse and ugly historical past," Gushwell Brooks, communications co-ordinator at SAHRC told News24.
Clearly sick
Presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko told News24 Nair's tirade against the president demonstrates "delusional and attention seeking behaviour."
"This gentleman is clearly a sick person and his racist rant is not deserving of any airtime."
"We have no doubt that his views do not represent the majority of South Africans working hard to build unity and shared prosperity in this country. We urge his family and friends to give him the support he clearly needs," she said.
