A young Indian couple, allegedly targeted with racial slurs for six months by their African neighbours who called them "coolies" and told them to "go back to India", have moved the Equality Court in the South African city of Durban.
Gopaul Mohun and his wife, Radhika, residents Amanzimtoti, south of Durban, told the court that they had been insulted by their neighbours, Msizi Joel Mosondo, and his family for the past six months.
"They said we were cane cutters and that is all we are fit for," Mohun said in the papers filed in the court.
"Mr Masondo said he was oppressed and that he fought for this country and that Indians only benefited from his hard work. Masondo’s wife said :’You coolie, go back to India where you belong," the Indian alleged.
"The family uses derogatory racial words and phrases and tells neighbours about ’these Indians’."
Mohun told the court that he had twice tried to serve warning notices on the Masondo family but they had refused to accept it.
"He and his family continue to make violent threats...on me and my family despite my attempt to bring peace. The police told me that Masondo’s wife had refused to allow her husband to accept the notices and said that she doesn’t care about me because I am nuisance to them," he said But Masondo, in a brief affidavit, replied that Mohun was the "trouble maker".
"Therefore, while the cases and investigation are going I’m not responding to anybody like Mr Gopaul who brews trouble now and again and talks too much", said Masondo.
The hearing has been set for June 25. South Africa has recently witnessed heightened racial tensions with renewed xenophobic attacks that has left more than 63 people being killed and displaced over 70 000.
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