The Hindu community has welcomed the guilty plea from Dawie Kriel – with some saying an example needs to be made of him to stop racist comments over fireworks during festive periods – especially Diwali.
Kriel appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday, on charges of crimen injuria.
Last month, he referred to Hindus as ‘idol worshippers’ and said they should go back to India – in a post that went viral on social media.
Despite apologising – the Hindu community, DA and ANC pressed charges against him.
President of the Hindu Maha Sabha, Ashwin Trikamjee says Kriel had no other option but to plead guilty.
“The sentence must send out a message to other people and there are many other people who think like Kriel. He is not the only one – who behaves in a particular fashion when it comes to fireworks and Diwali, and the message must me you can’t do it anymore – you’ll be punished and punished hard,” he said.