27 September 2026
The African National Congress Parliamentary Caucus condemns the vile, racist, and Islamophobic verbal abuse directed at a Muslim motorist, Abdur Rahamaan Aziz, outside a synagogue in Norwood by a Norwood businessman, Rodney Plett on 21st September 2026.
The circulating video footage which depicts unprovoked hostility, racial slurs, and malicious weaponisation of international geopolitical conflicts to terrorize a South African citizen on our street, is a stark reminder that the demons of racism and bigotry remain a threat to our democracy. Plett hurled racial slurs at Aziz, calling him an “ Indian C..t” and in so doing, swore not just one person but insulted the over 1.6 million Indian population in our country. By referring to the victim as “your Indian…” , he has directly attacked all Indians. He further goes on to express his satisfaction at the Palestinians being killed in Gaza, when he said “ Let me tell you something. The Israelis are killing you all, you p…”.
Aziz opened a crimen injuria case at Norwood Police Station and filed a complaint at the Human Rights Commission. We note the public apology issued by the perpetrator but believe that accountability must go beyond belated regret. Racism, Islamophobia, and hate speech are an assault on our constitutional values and cannot be brushed aside as mere moments of road rage or temporary lapses in judgment.
Our Constitution is built on the foundational values of human dignity, equality, and non-racialism. The attempt to import foreign conflicts onto South African soil to intimidate, degrade, and inflict psychological or physical pain on community members is abhorrent and goes against the very fabric of our multicultural society.
We support the criminal case and call for a thorough investigation and that the perpetrator is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity. The ANC remains steadfast in its commitment to fighting racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and all forms of chauvinism that threaten our national unity.
ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS
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