Steenhuisen accuses Bheki Cele of fanning racial tension in Phoenix
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has accused Police Minister Bheki Cele of fanning the flames of racial tension in Phoenix, where at least 36 people were killed during the unrest in July.
Steenhuisen has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to act against his police minister.
"Nineteen Black South Africans lost their lives in Inanda, but minister Cele doesn't care about them because they don't allow him to scapegoat and stereotype the Indian community of Phoenix.
"And you have done nothing and said nothing to call him out on it. So Mr President, will you today condemn your police minister who has spent every single day since the unrest scapegoating and stereotyping the Indian minority in Phoenix."
Ramaphosa, who answered questions in the National Assembly on Friday, replied by saying Cele has been working tirelessly to help quell tensions in the area.
"He has been engaging with community leaders, African community leaders, as well as Indian community leaders.
"He has been engaging with all of them with a view of ensuring that the tension that had erupted between the two communities are quietened down and he really has done admirable work."
