LISTEN: Durban man apologises to Hindus over inflammatory Diwali comments
Members of the Hindu community who are outraged over a social media post made by a Durban man over Diwali - have decided to take him to the SA Human Rights Commission, as well as open a criminal case against him.
In the post - which has been screengrabbed and shared hundreds of times on social media - Durbanite Dawie Kriel refers to Hindus as 'idol worshipers' and 'devil disciples.'
He goes on to say that Hindus should 'go back to India.'
The comments were made at the weekend, as Hindus around the world celebrated the festival of Diwali - which is characterized by the lighting of fireworks.
Kriel goes on to say he could strangle them with his bare hands, and also makes reference to the infamous Gupta family.
ALSO READ: Penny Sparrow guilty of hate speech
Chatsworth resident, Elvis Govender, says he and many other people in the Hindu community have rallied together and will be pressing charges and complaining to the human rights commission.
"To single-out the Indian community and the Hindu religion as purporting the fireworks is a display of ignorance, and blatant racism and bigotry. It further exacerbates the situation; he makes a call to violence by saying he wants to strangle all Indians until their faces turn blue and their tongues pop out," he said.
ALSO READ: SA unites over fake racist profile - Tanya Smit
Meanwhile, Kriel says that the comments were made in anger - as he had been working with pets affected by the fireworks all night.
Kriel says he referenced the post to people who were bursting big bangs and worded the story incorrectly.
He added that he deleted the post - but by then, it was too late.