Durban racism case: Dawie Kriel gets suspended sentence
Durban resident, Dawie Kriel has been sentenced to a R6000 fine or 12 months imprisonment - suspended for five years on the basis that he does not commit a similar crime for the next five years.
Magistrate Themba Sishi handed down the sentence at the Durban Magistrates Court this morning.
Kriel was convicted of crimen injuria for derogatory comments he made on social media last year during Diwali against Hindu people.
As his sentence was handed down by Magistrate Themba Sishi, the accused stood with his head lowered.
The NPA's Natasha Ramkisson Kara explains #DawieKriel sentence pic.twitter.com/hVxjhVSlJP
— Nushera Raisa (@nushera) March 27, 2017
Sishi explained that the court took into consideration that the 59-year-old Bluff resident was unemployed and that he'd publicly apologised.
Sishi says the court finds that Kriel's remorse was not genuine - his comments were difficult to understand since he lived with an Indian women for 15 years so he should show tolerance.
ALSO READ: Diwali racism case: Durban man 'must be punished accordingly'
Sishi says that the court was reluctant to send him to prison as it would serve no purpose - adding that they are treating him as a first-time offender.
Meanwhile, political parties and various Hindu organizations have all expressed their disappointment with the sentence.
The Hindu Maha Sabha's Ashwin Trickamjee also calling #DawieKriel sentence disappointing pic.twitter.com/GgZ9dpuAme
— Nushera Raisa (@nushera) March 27, 2017
Speaking to Newswatch, Dawie Kriel issued an apology late last year. Listen below.
We want to hear from you, do you think this sentence was enough?