According to the municipality, Khoury called its councillors with the K- word in a meeting where a multi-million rand humanitarian aid investment was presented. It is alleged that the businessman said the derogatory word after an indication that some councillors and the municipal manager would be voting against the project set to create employment for more than 110 000 people and the meeting abruptly adjourned by its Acting Chairman. In an interview with OFM News, Khoury, has however, refuted allegations that he was in anyway racist.

 He says the municipality’s executive mayoral committee has been blocking the information regarding the project from reaching the relevant portfolios, and that the municipality is only using this to deviate from real service delivery issues experienced by residents.

 Khoury alleges that he has, in the past, exposed that the municipal manager, Simon Mqwathi, does not possess the academic qualifications he claims to have and that he is being victimised for that by the municipality.

 Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the municipality, Dika Kheswa, says the municipality is of the view that Khoury was racist and has laid a case with both SAHRC and the SAPS.  Kheswa explains that the matter has nothing to do with the provision of services by the municipality.

 “Khoury’s utterances are an insult to both our hard-earned constitution and democratic dispensation. Racism should be condemned in all its forms and we urge our community to stand against it and everyone who is practising it. The case that we opened has got nothing to do with the possible investment that was presented, but has to do with the morals, ethics and principles of individuals. The municipality cannot block any form of aid or investment that seeks to improve the lives of our people,” said Kheswa.

OFM News