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Cape Town – Police are investigating a criminal complaint against DA Cederberg Municipality Speaker, John Hayes, who has come under fire for sharing images likening EFF supporters to monkeys.<\/p>\n
This is as the EFF lodged the complaint with police against Hayes on Thursday over the controversial sharing of the images, which depicts monkeys pulling the wheel caps off an unidentified car with the caption: \u201cBe careful. The EFF strike started\u201d. <\/p>\n
But Hayes said it was not his intention to hurt anyone, and he had no plans to resign. <\/p>\n
\u201cI am not a racist. I just shared a funny little video, that\u2019s all. I accept that I am guilty of naivety and got carried away with the looting threats from the EFF on Sunday. But I had no intentions of hurting people. I have taken the video down and apologised,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, confirmed a crimen injuria case was under investigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis office can confirm that a crimen injuria case was registered for investigation earlier today (Thursday, March 23) at Cape Town Central Police. Investigations continue,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Hayes was elected Speaker of the Cederberg Municipality earlier this month, and said he won\u2019t step down from his political duties. <\/p>\n
\u201cI am an activist all my life, running on the DA ticket was a way to get stuff improved for our community. I thought of stepping down from all political duties after this. But I would be letting down my community if I resign. Because I am a community worker. The DA needs to decide on that. If I resign, then I will be letting my people down,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
The criminal complaint was first lodged with the municipality by community activist and Rural and Farmworkers Development Organisation executive director, Billy Claasen.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a councillor he should have known better. As I have said numerous times, this video is hilarious and a great joke. But as soon as you add the caption it then constitutes to hate speech and can be racism. Here you directly refer to human beings as baboons. We live in a very fragile society and cannot condone this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Cederberg Mayor, Ruben Richards, said they have received the complaint against Hayes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have received correspondence from the complainant. We will follow due process and allow the law to take its course,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n Having worked closely with Hayes, Richards said claims that he was racist were \u201cunfounded\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI have also been called a racist before, and I am not even white. It is easy in this country to call someone a racist,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n A case of crimen injuria has now been opened against the Speaker of the Cederberg Municipality, John Hayes for his racist tweet where he associates EFF members with monkeys. At the police station were Cmsr @nazier_paulsen<\/a>, Cmsr @Sam_Matiase<\/a>, Ftr Wandile Kasibe & Billy Classen. pic.twitter.com\/2LsqwNUS9e<\/a><\/p>\n\n